This home white air-knit gamer by CCM was worn by Terry Ruskowski during the 1987-89 NHL seasons. Ruskowski was originally drafted in 1974 by the Houston Aeros of the WHA and the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. He chose to begin his career in the WHA and played for 5 years in the fledgling league prior to their collapse. In 1979-80 Ruskowski joined the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and spent the first 3+ seasons of his NHL career with them. Terry next spent 3 years with the LA Kings, 2 more with the Pittsburgh Penguins and then a final year plus with the Minnesota North Stars.

Despite standing only 5’ 9” tall, Terry played big and was one of the more feared forwards of his era. A perennial triple digit PIMS man, Terry racked up a career single season best 252 PIMS in his first season with the Hawks. In 630 NHL games, he amassed 1356 PIMS. He accumulated another 761 PIMS in 369 WHA games, giving him better than 2000 PIMS in his career. A born leader, Ruskowski is the only player in major professional hockey history to serve as the Captain for 4 different teams. Since retiring as a player, Ruskowski has gone on to a lengthy career as a Head Coach in the minor leagues, serving in that role for nearly 20 years.

This stunning sweater was likely the final home jersey worn by Ruskowski during his career. The game wear on this sweater consists of stick and slash marks, board burns, board paint transfer, un-repaired burn holes, washed out bloodstains, a fight strap that has lost the battle to salt and rust, fine inner pilling and a handful of team-sewn repairs. Removed from the left breast of this gamer is the alternate Captain’s “A”. Also worthy of mention is that this is a retired number in honor of Bill Goldsworthy, done so in February of 1992. Ruskowski has penned a black sharpie signature on the back player number. Shown above, for your enjoyment, is rare footage of Ruskowski letting fly while wearing his home North Stars gamer. A fantastic North Stars gamer, and likely the last ever worn by Ruskowski during his rough and tumble 15-year career.