Rare ice hockey sticks to be auctioned - 23/02/2010

A couple of rare ice hockey sticks have been put up for auction this week in Canada, it has been revealed.

The two sticks, one signed by the entire 1924 Canadian Olympic-winning team and the other purported to be the oldest stick in existence, are both rare and exciting items of sporting memorabilia, according to the Vancouver Sun.

Coinciding with the Olympic Games, which are currently taking place in Vancouver, the sales of the two items are likely to benefit from the increased publicity, particularly if Canada secures the gold medal in the event.

Marc Juteau, president of Classic Auctions, which is selling the 1924 blade, said that the seller had coincided the sale with the Olympic Games for appropriateness.

He told CanWest News Service: "The family thought it would be fitting to offer it for auction at the same time as the Olympics. It's a great story and a fantastic stick."

The oldest known stick in existence – the Rutherford stick – dates back to the 1850s and was sold in 2006 to a Canadian dealer for $1.9 million. There is a chance this figures could be eclipsed at the auction on February 28th.