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I originally posted this on another hockey game worn board but after I re-read it, I realized my story may not be unique. It's a little long to read but I'm biased and think it's worth it. 
Do you have a story about a game used item that touches you? I'd love to hear it! Post here or email me at gingi79@aol.com. All too often in this hobby we hear about fake stuff, people being ripped off or negative publicity. Here's my positive story. Enjoy!
"I am a Vancouver Canucks fan. In the late 1980's as a skinny kid on Long Island rebelling against the norm meant picking a team as far from my life as possible. One could not dream of a team further away than my boys from Vancouver.
With the exception of 1982 and 1994, Canucks fans do not have a lot of fond memories of great teams to help get us through the long off-season when my team suffers their seemingly inevitable last loss of the season. As a long time fan, my favorite players are not hall of famers or continuous all stars. Most people never heard of Thomas Gradin, Jyrkki Lumme or Cliff Ronning. The team has only retired one number, "The Stanley Steamer" #12 Stan Smyl. We are not the Canadiens or the Leafs. We've never won a Cup, played in only 2 Finals in 38 years and have had one superstar in Pavel Bure. (Mogilny doesn't count, he is a Sabre)
With the exception of Trevor Linden, I cannot think of any other player the Canucks will honor by retiring his number in the first 40 years of our franchise.
What makes this team enamored upon my soul however is best summed up by a set of cards I once owned of the team from the early 1990's. Everyone on the team was dressed in construction uniforms simulating the "rebuilding" of the franchise when they built the new stadium. This "lunchpail" mentality rang true to me. A bunch of guys who played with all heart and showed up every night to try their best. 1982 and especially 1994 were about a bunch of guys sweating through a season on heart rather than talent. They made the Finals and pushed the evil Edmonton Rangers (or is it the New York Oilers?) to 7 games, out matched, out talented and out paid. I thought my team had lost that mentality in the last 10 years until a talented and gutsy kid started playing for them on Defense. Much like Clarkson's own Willie Mitchell, Luc Bourdon personified raw talent and lunch pail determination. I was thrilled to have him on the Canucks. Seeing as I am a Defense kinda guy, Luc was the future All Star Defenseman I always wanted the Canucks to draft.
I thought, much like Bure, that Luc's game worn jerseys would never be attainable. $1000 for a preseason shirt, MeiGray Documents or not, was not in my price range. "Oh well", I thought to myself, "At least I have years of watching him to look forward to......"
Then ESPN sent a ticker under a Women' College Softball World Series game that said:
"Vancouver Canucks Rookie Defenseman Luc Bourdon killed in car accident. He was 21"
I gasped. I frowned. My friend Jeff called me 10 minutes later and asked me if he was any good.
"The future of my team and a competitive heart I wish they would clone," was my response.
As many have stated before, thank god for Barry Meisel. I didn't know Luc and it isn't my business what people do with his stuff. However, had it been my son, my brother, my friend, I would have wanted to know his parents received his jerseys rather than money-grubbing people hell bent on making a buck on his tragic death.
A collector I respect on another board made mention of the fact there was a typo on www.nhlgameworn.com listing Luc's first two pre-season Canucks gamers as "Lou" Bourdon. What I am betting no one else knew is that I saw this typo first, less than 2 hours after Luc's death was reported. I notified Barry that these listing existed and offered to pay money to help send Luc's gamers to his parents. If they weren't interested or they really were still for sale, I would find a way to own one to save it from the card companies or some dirtbag who would resell it at some outrageous price to profit on this horrible time in Canucks history. (I then saw that Barry had already planned to do this. There is only one MeiGray ladies and gentlemen and the integrity of Barry and his staff is immeasurable)
Barry was generous enough to respond to my email and offered to sell me one of the two pre-season gamers a few days ago. I cannot say enough about how honored I am to own it. I own 3 jerseys right now that will Never be for sale:
Pavel Bure's White Orca 1997/98 Canucks jersey
Trevor Linden's Alternate Third Orca and
Luc Bourdon's preseason white jersey from 2005.
I didn't buy it for it's monetary value, I bought it because of what might have been. Every time I look at it, I smile. I don't take life for granted and I try to live with my whole heart. You can bet every time I see a Canuck player throw his body into a check and play balls-to-the wall, I'll look at this jersey, grin and say, "That was a Bourdon kind of play""
Do you have a story about a game used item that touches you? I'd love to hear it! Post here or email me at gingi79@aol.com. All too often in this hobby we hear about fake stuff, people being ripped off or negative publicity. Here's my positive story. Enjoy!"I am a Vancouver Canucks fan. In the late 1980's as a skinny kid on Long Island rebelling against the norm meant picking a team as far from my life as possible. One could not dream of a team further away than my boys from Vancouver.
With the exception of 1982 and 1994, Canucks fans do not have a lot of fond memories of great teams to help get us through the long off-season when my team suffers their seemingly inevitable last loss of the season. As a long time fan, my favorite players are not hall of famers or continuous all stars. Most people never heard of Thomas Gradin, Jyrkki Lumme or Cliff Ronning. The team has only retired one number, "The Stanley Steamer" #12 Stan Smyl. We are not the Canadiens or the Leafs. We've never won a Cup, played in only 2 Finals in 38 years and have had one superstar in Pavel Bure. (Mogilny doesn't count, he is a Sabre)
With the exception of Trevor Linden, I cannot think of any other player the Canucks will honor by retiring his number in the first 40 years of our franchise.
What makes this team enamored upon my soul however is best summed up by a set of cards I once owned of the team from the early 1990's. Everyone on the team was dressed in construction uniforms simulating the "rebuilding" of the franchise when they built the new stadium. This "lunchpail" mentality rang true to me. A bunch of guys who played with all heart and showed up every night to try their best. 1982 and especially 1994 were about a bunch of guys sweating through a season on heart rather than talent. They made the Finals and pushed the evil Edmonton Rangers (or is it the New York Oilers?) to 7 games, out matched, out talented and out paid. I thought my team had lost that mentality in the last 10 years until a talented and gutsy kid started playing for them on Defense. Much like Clarkson's own Willie Mitchell, Luc Bourdon personified raw talent and lunch pail determination. I was thrilled to have him on the Canucks. Seeing as I am a Defense kinda guy, Luc was the future All Star Defenseman I always wanted the Canucks to draft.
I thought, much like Bure, that Luc's game worn jerseys would never be attainable. $1000 for a preseason shirt, MeiGray Documents or not, was not in my price range. "Oh well", I thought to myself, "At least I have years of watching him to look forward to......"
Then ESPN sent a ticker under a Women' College Softball World Series game that said:
"Vancouver Canucks Rookie Defenseman Luc Bourdon killed in car accident. He was 21"
I gasped. I frowned. My friend Jeff called me 10 minutes later and asked me if he was any good.
"The future of my team and a competitive heart I wish they would clone," was my response.
As many have stated before, thank god for Barry Meisel. I didn't know Luc and it isn't my business what people do with his stuff. However, had it been my son, my brother, my friend, I would have wanted to know his parents received his jerseys rather than money-grubbing people hell bent on making a buck on his tragic death.
A collector I respect on another board made mention of the fact there was a typo on www.nhlgameworn.com listing Luc's first two pre-season Canucks gamers as "Lou" Bourdon. What I am betting no one else knew is that I saw this typo first, less than 2 hours after Luc's death was reported. I notified Barry that these listing existed and offered to pay money to help send Luc's gamers to his parents. If they weren't interested or they really were still for sale, I would find a way to own one to save it from the card companies or some dirtbag who would resell it at some outrageous price to profit on this horrible time in Canucks history. (I then saw that Barry had already planned to do this. There is only one MeiGray ladies and gentlemen and the integrity of Barry and his staff is immeasurable)
Barry was generous enough to respond to my email and offered to sell me one of the two pre-season gamers a few days ago. I cannot say enough about how honored I am to own it. I own 3 jerseys right now that will Never be for sale:
Pavel Bure's White Orca 1997/98 Canucks jersey
Trevor Linden's Alternate Third Orca and
Luc Bourdon's preseason white jersey from 2005.
I didn't buy it for it's monetary value, I bought it because of what might have been. Every time I look at it, I smile. I don't take life for granted and I try to live with my whole heart. You can bet every time I see a Canuck player throw his body into a check and play balls-to-the wall, I'll look at this jersey, grin and say, "That was a Bourdon kind of play""
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