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THE BILL MURDOCH SIGNED JERSEY COLLECTION
Bidding Begins Closing: Sunday, June 23rd @ 7:00 p.m. (Staggered & Soft Close in Effect)
Preview: Wednesday, June 19 from 8am to 4pm.
Payment & Pickup: Monday, June 24th & Tuesday, June 25th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Snider’s Sydenham Auction & Appraisal Services Inc. is pleased to bring the Bill Murdoch Signed Hockey Jersey Collection to market. Selling on behalf of Sue Murdoch and the Murdoch Family, this collection will be offered in two parts. With signed jerseys from every current & past NHL team there is sure to be an opportunity for every hockey & sports fan to add that missing piece, or two, to their collection. The collection features both past & present NHL superstars, including over 80 signed jerseys from Hockey Hall of Famers. Please take a moment to read the note below provided by Bill’s wife, Sue.
THE BILL MURDOCH HOCKEY COLLECTION LEGACY
Being a politician was just one of the many goals Bill strived to achieve in his very full life. Bill attended hundreds of events as an MPP. It was one of these events that led him to acquire this very large signed hockey jersey collection.
It began at an NHL Alumni game at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound, Ontario. One of Bill’s hockey heroes was playing, Frank Mahovlich. This became the first hockey jersey Bill purchased and had a player sign. In the next 18 years he would acquire over 900 signed hockey jerseys.
The process of getting the jerseys signed was the best part for Bill. Dozens of phone calls for each jersey to find a source to get them signed became his obsession. He engaged family, friends and people all over North America in this friendly pursuit. He had a way with people. The Montreal Canadians was Bill’s team. He acquired over 80 Montreal Canadians signed jerseys including Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur and Boom Boom Geoffrion.
Because he was a Habs fan it was painful, but he also acquired almost as many Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys, including all Leafs jerseys and signatures from the 1967 Stanley Cup Series. He enjoyed the fact that they haven’t won the cup since. He eventually acquired jerseys from every NHL team to date.
Bill loved to create special jerseys like the Hanson Brothers from the movie “Slapshot”, the 3 Howes when they played together on the Whalers, the French Connection signed by all 3 Buffalo Sabres, and an Edmonton Oilers jersey signed by Wayne & Walter Gretzky.
Very close to his heart was the Ontario Hockey League’s Owen Sound Attack. All Attack players that were drafted to the NHL are included. Players such as Nick Suzuki, Dan Snyder, & Bobby Ryan hung with pride on the racks of Bill’s collection.
In 2022, after a two-year battle with cancer we lost Bill. True to himself, even in his hospice room, we hung the jerseys he requested, his beloved Habs heroes and Maple Leafs Johnny Bower, just to be fair.
The Murdoch family releases Bill’s collection to be acquired by the many hockey fans in our area and across this country where hockey is revered as a proud Canadian tradition.
Bill Murdoch curated and created an incredible collation. It is truly a huge part of his legacy. As his family, we are extremely proud of what he accomplished in his very full life. Now, we are present one of his finest accomplishments.
Sue Murdoch & the Murdoch Family
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