This important piece of Team Canada history can be traced directly back to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Canada Auction. The auction took place in Edmonton Alberta on November 10th 1992. The auction featured 3 game worn 1987 Team Canada jerseys, Gretzky, Messier and Coffey. We are proud to be able to offer both the Messier and Coffey jerseys that were purchased at auction from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Canada in Edmonton, 1992.

This stunning white air-knit gamer by CCM was worn by Mark Messier during the 1987 Canada Cup Pre-Tournament. It was with the 48th overall selection in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft that the Edmonton Oilers struck gold by drafting one of the greatest leaders in sports history. After a disappointing year in the WHA that saw Messier score only 1 goal and 11 points in 52 games, he joined the Edmonton Oilers and began what would be one of the all-time great NHL careers. Mark spent a quarter-century, 25-years exactly playing in the NHL, wow! His NHL accomplishments are legendary and lengthy. The highlights include 694 goals, good for 7th all-time; 1193 assists, 3rd all-time; 1887 points, 2nd all-time and 1756 games played, 2nd all-time. His playoff totals are just as impressive with 109 goals, 2nd all-time; 186 assists, 2nd all-time; 295 points, 2nd all-time.

Messier played in 7 Stanley Cup Finals and walked away victorious 6 times. It was during his 12 years in Edmonton that Messier won his first 5 Stanley Cup titles. After the Oilers dynasty was dismantled, Messier found himself in the Big Apple where he played for 10 of the next 13 seasons. It was in New York that Messier engineered one of the greatest assaults at the Stanley Cup that the hockey world had ever seen, helping to break a 54-year hex and leading the Rangers to Stanley Cup glory. In between his days on Broadway, Messier headed northwest and spent 3 seasons energizing the passionate Vancouver Canucks fans. Messier is the only professional athlete to have ever Captained two different championship teams.

The highlights of Messier’s impressive mantel are 2 Hart Trophies as NHL MVP, 2 Lester B. Pearson Trophies as the NHL’s outstanding player as selected by the NHLPA and a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP that he captured in leading the Oilers to their first ever Stanley Cup title, a win that jump started a dynasty. Messier was 5 times a 1st or 2nd Team NHL All Star and played in 15 NHL All Star games. On the international stage “The Moose” represented team Canada in 3 Canada Cups and the World Cup of Hockey. He also represented Team NHL in Rendezvous ’87.

Offered here is Messier’s 1987 Canada Cup gamer, from the pre-tournament part of the historic series. What began in the blazing summer heat of August, with dozens of Canadian star players from all over the NHL arriving at camp to try to earn their spot in this prestigious tournament, ended in grand fashion as Team Canada won the deciding game in dramatic fashion against the Soviet Union on a goal by Mario Lemieux, assisted by Wayne Gretzky, with less than 2 minutes to go in the 3rd and deciding Finals game. The fight for a prestigious roster spot was fierce, while waging war in the pre-tournament as Team Canada clashed with Team USA, the Canadian Olympic Team and the dreaded Russians. Future Hall of Famers and star players including but not limited to Patrick Roy, Cam Neely, Steve Yzerman, Dino Ciccarelli, Wendel Clark, Al Macinnis and Scott Stevens all failed to make the final cut!

Proudly sewn to the left breast of this gamer is the alternate Captain’s “A”. Messier, who oozed leadership; certainly did battle while wearing this jersey as evidenced by the solid game use on this size 54 sweater. There are stick and slash marks, board burns, board paint transfer, blood and sweat stains, pilling and a well-salted fight strap. Having won 3 Stanley Cups and the 1984 Canada Cup in just the past 4 years, there was little doubt that Messier was in his prime while he wore this stunning jersey. A fantastic piece of Team Canada history, worn by one of hockey’s all-time greats, choice!