This road white air-knit gamer by Reebok was worn by John Tavares during the 2009-10 NHL season, his rookie year. The New York Islanders selected Tavares with the 1st overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. It took an “exceptional” designation for Tavares, to be granted draft eligible status at the age of 14. This was the first time that such an exception was ever granted. The Oshawa Generals benefited from the ruling and selected John with the first overall pick in 2005 at the tender age of 14. John would follow in the footsteps of the great Bobby Orr and represent Oshawa as a young teenager. As did Orr, Tavares would dominate his older foes, scoring a remarkable 45 goals and 77 points as a 15-year old rookie in 2005-06. He was named OHL and CHL rookie of the year.

During his 2nd season, Tavares made news across the entire hockey world. That season, as a 16-year old, Tavares broke Wayne Gretzky’s record for goals in a season. In 1977-78, The Great Gretzky, at 17 years of age, scored an incredible 70 goals, a mark that stood without challenge for 30 years. Tavares made the record his own, lighting the lamp a resounding 72 times at the age of 16! He would also chip in 62 assists for a remarkable total of 134 points in 67 games played. The league recognized Tavares’ outstanding accomplishments by awarding the 16-year old with the Red Tilson Trophy as the most outstanding player in the league. He also was awarded the CHL’s Player of the Year award. During the 2007-08 season, his 3rd year in the league, Tavares netted 40 goals and assisted on 78 others for a 118 point season in 59 games played. He was also selected to help Team Canada’s National Junior Team win their 4th consecutive Gold Medal.

Tavares broke into the NHL in 2009-10 with the New York Islanders. This gifted Center is now in his 10th season and his first with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Having averaged nearly a point per game thus far in his career, this 28-year old has twice been a finalist for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP. In 2014-15 he was named 1st Team NHL All Star at Center. Tavares is a 5-time NHL All Star who continues to build on his impressive career resume.

Tavares wore this jersey during his first ever NHL game, a pre-season contest in Edmonton on September 16, 2009. It was also worn by Tavares during his first regular season road game, which was also the 2nd regular season game of his career at Ottawa on October 8, 2009. Tavares wore this jersey all the way through mid-November, including the night he recorded the first 2-Goal game of his career on November 13, 2009 at Carolina. The game wear on this 1st set size 56 sweater consists of stick and slash marks, board burns, un-repaired burn holes and inner pilling. Shown above are some beautiful photo matches of Tavares wearing this exact jersey on the 3 important aforementioned dates. Sewn to the inside hem is the official New York Islanders game worn jersey tagging. Beautiful photo matched offering, worn by Tavares during his 1st Team NHL All-Rookie campaign as he kicked off his budding career, choice! This jersey will be accompanied by an Islanders team letter.