This road blue knit gamer by Maska was worn by Jerry Korab during the 1979-80 NHL season. Korab began his NHL career in 1970-71 with the Chicago Blackhawks and spent 3 years with the club. During that time he made two trips to the Stanley Cup Finals, both ending in defeat at the hands of the Ken Dryden led Montreal Canadiens. In 1973-74, Jerry spent nearly half a season with the Vancouver Canucks before beginning a 7-year run with the Buffalo Sabres. In Korab’s first full season in Buffalo, he made yet another trip to the Cup Finals, losing for a 3rd consecutive time, this year to the Philadelphia Flyers. After parts of 7 years in Buffalo, as the trading deadline loomed, the Sabres dealt Korab to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for the draft choice that would become Phil Housley. Jerry spent parts of 4 seasons with the Kings before returning to Buffalo for a final couple of years. “King Kong” Korab packed a booming shot from the point and stood at an imposing 6’ 3” 220 lbs. In 975 career games, Kong chipped in 114 goals thanks to 6 years of double-digit efforts, all the while racking up 1629 PIMS as he put his size to effective use. While with Buffalo in the mid 1970’s, Korab earned back-to-back NHL All Star game appearances in 1975 and 1976.
The 1979-80 season was a special one in Buffalo. Playing under the guidance of their new boss Scotty Bowman, the Sabres established themselves as the best defensive team in the league. They went on to win the Adams division with a gaudy 110 points while allowing a mere 201 goals against, the leagues best total. The Sabres stormed into the playoffs and had their sights set on Lord Stanley’s Cup. However it wasn’t to be as they ran into the New York Islanders dynasty in the Semi Finals and fell in 6 games, completing one of the most exciting seasons in team history.
Sewn to the right breast of this gamer is the 1980 Olympic Patch. The Sabres wore this coveted set of Maska game jerseys with the tiny double logos for the majority of the 1979-80 NHL season. Many hockey fans consider the 1980 Miracle On Ice Olympic games as the greatest moment in the history of the sport. Those Olympic games took place in Lake Placid, New York. Buffalo was one of two teams, the New York Islanders being the other, who donned the 1980 Olympic patch on their game jerseys. While any of these Sabres Olympic patched game jerseys are considered a treasure in the collecting community, having one that was worn by one of Buffalo’s most popular players and a two-time All Star at that makes this offering even more special. This spectacular jersey has been buried away for more than three decades since leaving the back of “King Kong” Korab and is now entering our hobby for the very first time. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to add this incredible Olympic patched game worn jersey to your collection, choice!
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