This white Canadian Custom Pro hockey stick was game worn by Marc Tardif while playing for the Quebec Nordiques. Tardif was the 2nd overall selection in the 1969 NHL Amatuer Draft by the Montreal Canadiens with whom he spent the first 4 years of his 14-year playing career. This gifted winger left Les Habitants in 1973 for the lure of the WHA’s big bucks, signing a $350,000 contract with the LA Sharks. Following a year with the Sharks and a partial season with the Stags and Blades, Marc joined the Quebec Nordiques and remained with the club for the next 9 seasons until retirement. Tardif will be remembered as one of the WHA’s all-time greats. Despite missing the WHA’s inaugural season, Tardif ended his WHA career as the leagues all-time leading goal scorer with 316, 3rd in all-time assists with 350 and 2nd in all-time scoring with 666! He recorded the two highest single season point totals with 154 in 1977-78 and 148 in 1975-76. He scored a career best 71 goals in 1975-76 and was one of only three players in league history to eclipse the 70-goal mark with Bobby Hull and Real Cloutier being the others. Marc was 3-times a 1st Team WHA All Star and one time a 2nd Team WHA All Star. He won the WD Hunter Trophy for leading the WHA in scoring 2-times and also captured the Gordie Howe Trophy as the WHA’s MVP 2-times.
Tardif accomplished all of this despite suffering a life threatening injury during the 1976 playoffs at the hands of Rick Jodzio who nearly decapitated him. Eyewitness accounts have Jodzio leaving the Calgary bench and skating 80 feet down ice directly at Tardif and cross checking him in the face, which caused immediate unconsciousness. After Tardif fell unconscious to the ice, Jodzio began wailing away and violently landed numerous punches to Tardif’s face. This left Marc with severe facial lacerations, numerous busted teeth and severe brain contusions. It also sparked the worst bench clearing brawl in the history of the WHA. Tardif remained unconscious for better than a half hour and had no recollection of the incident after waking up in the hospital. So severe were his injuries that brain damage and paralysis were feared. Tardif wasn’t able to leave his home for an extended period of time and missed the potential thrill of a lifetime in having to skip the 1976 Canada Cup. Tardif was never the same player after the incident, despite continuing to put forth great offensive statistics. We can only wonder what may have been. Following the WHA’s merger to the NHL, Tardif carried on with the Nordiques. He remained a prolific scorer and earned a selection to the NHL All Star game in 1982. Having served the Nordiques franchise as their Team Captain in both the WHA and the NHL, the franchise proudly retired his player number 8 the season following his retirement.
This white Canadian hockey stick has the player name and number “M Tardif 8” stamped on the side. The stick is fully taped on the butt and blade. It is uncracked and in beautiful condition.
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