This vintage gamer was originally sourced directly from the personal collection of NHL defenseman Dennis Owchar. A letter signed by Mr. Owchar will accompany your purchase.

This home white dureen gamer by Cleveland Sport Goods Co. was worn by Jim Wiley during the 1972-73 AHL season, his rookie season. This set of jerseys was then recycled for use at practice sessions during the 1973-74 Calder Cup Championship season. Wiley played his collegiate hockey at Lake Superior State University where he made the West All-American Team before signing with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a Free Agent in the summer of 1972. Wiley spent the majority of the next two years with the Pens AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears and captured the Calder Cup in the spring of 1974. Jim made his NHL debut in 1972-73 with Pittsburgh where he played for a couple of seasons before joining the Vancouver Canucks. Wiley spent parts of three seasons with the Canucks and then finished his playing career with the CHL’s Tulsa Oilers. When his playing days were complete, Wiley joined the coaching profession, eventually rising all the way to the NHL where, in 1995-96, he served as the San Jose Sharks Head Coach.

The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Owchar in the 4th round of the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft. This Dryden, Ontario native made his NHL debut in 1974-75 with the Penguins where he played for parts of four seasons. Dennis went on to finish his NHL career under the guidance of Head Coach Don Cherry while with the Colorado Rockies where he played for three years. Owchar spent parts of three seasons with the Hershey Bears at the outset of his professional career and celebrated a Calder Cup in 1973-74 as a rookie.

Sewn into the collar is the heavily worn Cleveland Sport Goods and frayed size tagging. Sewn into the hem is the heavily faded manufacturers tag. The chain-stitched design of the well-worn old-school Bears crest, trimmed in white and chocolate is a sight to behold. The game wear on this sweater is solid and consists of stick and slash marks, board burns, board paint transfer, un-repaired burn holes, trauma, stitch popping, some loosening of the rear player numbers, inner pilling and team-sewn repair work. The sleeves on this jersey have also been shortened. Shown above are some beautiful photo matches of Wiley wearing this exact jersey during the 1972-73 season. This was Wiley’s first professional season and he put forth some terrific numbers as a rookie for the Hershey Bears. In 71 games he lit the lamp 30 times and added 45 assists for 75 points, good for 2nd on the team in scoring and earning himself a call-up to the NHL. Owchar, another former NHLer, wore this jersey during the 1973-74 Championship season while skating in practice sessions. A spectacular well-worn photo matched example of a very tough vintage style that is now more than 45 years removed from the ice, choice!