This jersey originates directly from the personal collection of Rick Vaive. A letter of provenance, signed by Mr. Vaive, will be included with your purchase.

This home white knit gamer by CCM was worn by Rick Vaive during the mid 1980’s. Vaive was the 5th player selected in the 1979 NHL entry draft. The Vancouver Canucks were Vaive’s first NHL team, after playing for a lone season with the WHA’s Birmingham Bulls. His stay in Vancouver was short, lasting a mere 47 games before being dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Tiger Williams. Vaive would play for parts of 8 seasons with the Leafs before moving on to the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres. 

Vaive was an instant hit in Toronto. When team Captain Darryl Sittler stepped down from that role following the 1980-81 season, Rick stepped up and assumed the role of leadership. He was named the Maple Leafs team Captain prior to the start of the 1981-82 season. This was a title he held thru the 1985-86 season. In Vaive’s first season as Captain, he joined the 50-goal club with a 54 goal outburst. The next two years also saw Vaive net better than 50 goals and a new Leafs hero had been born.

Rick is one of the Maple Leafs all time leading goal scorers sitting along with the likes of Sittler and Keon. Vaive also played with an edge to his game racking up 229 PIMS in his first full season with the Leafs. In 876 career games Rick scored 441 goals and amassed 1445 PIMS.  He was an NHL All Star game participant in 1982, 1983 and 1984.

Sewn proudly to the left breast of this gamer is the Captain’s “C”. The “C” appears to have had a slight placement change at one time in its past. The sleeves have been custom shortened in traditional Maple Leafs form. The game use consists of stick marks, board burns, board paint transfer, fine inner pilling, washed out bloodstains, un-repaired holes and a handful of team-sewn repairs. The back of the collar shows signs of fight abuse, having been torn and re-sewn. This is a wonderful example, not long removed from Vaive’s own collection and one which is sure to please the most ardent Maple Leafs fan.