Nieuwendyk GU/Auto'd Stick 2/27/87 vs RPI (2nd to last Cornell game)

[JReed79]

Hello Big Red Hockey fans! I am new to this site, having only recently learned of its existence. I haven't kept up with the team as much in recent years, but used to have season tickets in the mid to late 80's and early to mid 90's before my own hockey travels made it nearly impossible to make it to games. I did get back into watching the Big Red on occasion in the late 90's and early in the new millenium. I was a roommate of the McRae twins' brother (Peter) at Sacred Heart where we played hockey (coached by former CU players Shaun Hannah and Stephane Gauvin) and some former teammates from childhood, Sam Paolini in spring/summer hockey and some winter, and Jeremey Downs for a couple seasons, so I watched those guys play as often as I could.

At the age of 7, I was lucky enough to get to attend most of the home games of the 1986-87 Big Red squad. In that season in particular, Joe Nieuwendyk cemented himself as my first ever hero. Heading into the final weekend of that season, I recall knowing that Joe had announced he would leave Cornell to join the Calgary Flames at the end of the season. It was a bittersweet feeling, for sure. To know he would not be back for his Senior year was enough to make even a casual fan's heart sink, but all the more magnified for a young kid who enjoyed little more in life than watching him play first-hand. On the other hand, it was amazing to know Joe was achieving his dream and as much as fans would have loved to have him back for one last hurrah, it was beyond evident he was too talented to have benefited from staying.

Now, a little more than 25 years after his final games at Cornell, I have decided to make my most priceless and treasured sports collectible available to someone else.

The stick I am selling is from Joe's second to last game at Cornell, a home game vs. RPI played on 2/27/87. In that game, Joe produced perhaps the greatest performance of his Cornell career. With all eyes fixated on him after his announcement he was soon to leave, Joe put the team on his back and carried them to a huge win. Joe scored a power play goal in the first, assisted the 4th Cornell goal in the 2nd, and then saved the ultimate excitement for the third. He was awarded a penalty shot midway through the period, and he scored on beautiful deke. I remember that being the loudest, longest ovation I'd ever heard at a public venue at that time. Studying up on the numbers for Cornell hockey, NO PLAYER SINCE has scored a penalty shot goal for the Big Red. CU Hockey #'s Game And to cap that wonderful night, Joe rounded out the scoring with another power play goal, for his and the team's first hat-trick of the season, and a 4 point night, in a 6-1 win over RPI.

Upon conclusion of that game, my father took me down by the Cornell locker room, where he explained to Mike Teeter, a former manager for the team, that I would like to meet Joe. I'll always remember how kind it was of Mike to allow us to do just that, and he went into the locker room, and as that door shut I could feel my heart race, because at that moment I realized I was going to meet my hero. Joe emerged all smiles and asked me if I wanted to meet the team. I was thrilled. Maybe it was the thrill of such a big win, but I remember the players were incredibly receptive to him bringing me in. It was an experience I'll never forget and one that fueled my interest in hockey even more to see how much fun the players seemed to have and how much they appreciated their fans. Joe took me over to his locker and said something to the effect of "Hey buddy, I want you to have this." He then proceeded to hand me the very stick he finished the game with! I still remember the blade was dripping from where the ice had melted off of the tape, and Joe offering to sign it, which made the moment even more special. Someone tossed him a black magic marker, and he wiped a spot clean just above the blade, and proceeded to sign the stick, "Joe Nieuwendyk #25".

The stick is a Red Titan with white lettering. It has not been altered in any way or used in any way since I received it 25 years ago - 25 of course being synonmous with Joe. The tape is still applied both top and bottom, and there is a 'Cornell 25' stamp near the top that was applied by the team. On the bottom on the back just above the blade is the following '3 Cor 25', which I am not certain about. Obviously the Cor 25 is Cornell 25 to identify it was Joe's, but the three could either have noted it was one of 3 sticks he had for use, or as my dad speculated, the pattern number. The manufacturer's date is also stamped on the shaft. I'll have to look again, but that date is hard to make out completely, though the year of it is is definitely 1986.

I'll always remember walking to the car with the stick and realizing it was about twice as tall as me. I probably even tried to take it to bed with me that night, but my parents were wise enough not to let me do so. The next night, 2/28/87, in his final game, Joe delivered once again. Having been held off the scoresheet through nearly the first 40 minutes of the game, it seemed he wouldn't finish with a game quite as good as the one before. Then, he broke through with 15 seconds remaining in the second period to give Cornell a 3-1 lead. You can imagine the ovation as the period was closing at people realized there was only one more to come. As the third began, Joe wasted no time showcasing his skill. Just 6 seconds in, he won the draw and walked through everyone and fired another shot into the next for his 2nd goal of the game. On his very next shift, Joe completed his second hat-trick in as many nights and all three goals came in a span of 3:01 of game time. Fittingly all three goals were the last scored by the team that season. CU Hockey Hat Tricks

Joe enjoyed a wonderful NHL career and is a member of both the Cornell Sports Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame. A three time Stanley Cup winner, Calder Trophy Winner, Conn Smythe Trophy Winner, Olympic Gold Medalist, two time 50 goal scorer and King Clancy Award Winner, Joe really did achieve everything in the sport of hockey that a player could aim for. He finished his brilliant Cornell career with 68 goals and 71 assists in just 73 games. That's an AVERAGE of 1.9 points per game. As previously mentioned, he is the last Cornell player to score on a penalty shot (with this stick!) and he is the ONLY Cornell forward (thanks to Robb, for the correction) ever nominated as a Hobey Baker finalist.

I am planning to list the stick for sale on eBay in the coming weeks, but wanted to afford the opportunity first to someone who might have appreciated Joe's Cornell days as much as I did. I've always considered Cornell Hockey fans to be the best and most loyal in all of college hockey, and over the years I witnessed games in at least a dozen other arenas. Even seeing Martin St. Louis break the UVM school scoring record in Vermont seemed sedated in comparison to even just a regular home game at Lynah. I will be taking a number of pictures of the Nieuwendyk stick, and I've attached a picture of Joe in his Cornell uniform with the exact (model of) stick. Anyone who would like information about it or that may have an interest, please feel free to email me and I will do my best to get back to you as quickly as possible. As the stick is likely one of a kind at this point, I will only part with it for the right price. The sentimental value coupled with the fact you will probably never see another like it surface again is reason enough for me not to just give it away. Thanks! - Jay

[TimV]

Would you consider donating it to Cornell Athletics for exhibit with other memorabilia in the Hall of Fame Room?::rock::

[Robb]

Great story, except for the part about the reasons you are selling it.  

FYI, Nieuwendyk is the only Cornell *forward* nominated for the Hobey Baker, but we've also had a defenseman (Doug Murray 2002) and 3 goalies (LeNeveu 2003, McKee 2005, and Scrivens 2010).  LeNeveu and McKee even made it to the final 3.

[JReed79]

I prefer to sell it simply because doing so will ultimately help us raise the money that will allow my grandmother to continue to receive her care. If I am unable to get enough value out of it to make it worth selling, I will probably just give it back to Joe, directly, and let him choose what to do with it.

[Robb]

Would you consider donating it to Cornell Athletics for exhibit with other memorabilia in the Hall of Fame Room?::rock::

He pretty clearly needs to sell it, not donate it.  You'll have to talk to the new owner...

[TimV]

JReed-  would you pm me with a ballpark idea about what you would like to get for it?

[Jim Hyla]

JReed-  would you pm me with a ballpark idea about what you would like to get for it?

Do you think he knows what PM means.

[JReed79]

Tim, sent you a private message 25 minutes ago...

[andyw2100]

JReed-  would you pm me with a ballpark idea about what you would like to get for it?

Do you think he knows what PM means.

---
Posted by: JReed79 (---.twcny.res.rr.com) [ PM ]
Date: March 25, 2012 04:51PM

Tim, sent you a private message 25 minutes ago...
---

Going out on a limb here Jim, but I'd say yes.

[Beeeej]

I hope your grandmother continues to receive the level and quality of care that she needs and deserves.

For the record, I have in my possession a stick signed by Joe. He didn't score a hat trick with it at Cornell, so it is not unique in the same sense that yours perhaps is, but I did want to put it out there that it's not exactly unique for him to have signed a stick.

Best of luck to you.

[JReed79]

Beeeej,

Thanks for the kind words about my Grandma! As for sticks signed by Joe, I have seen a few here and there on eBay from his NHL days. Usually they are around $200-$250. What period of his career was yours from? It seems his NHL era sticks are available from time to time, but I've never seen another auto'd stick from his Cornell days for sale, and certainly not one from the final weekend, when he delivered one of the finest weekend performances in college hockey history. Additionally, of his NHL game used sticks, if one were to surface that he scored his 50th goal with, or the stick from his 5 goal game which remains a Flames franchise record, or a stick from the Stanley Cup Finals that he scored with, it would undoubtedly command a huge premium versus a stick from an average game.

[BMac]

Could we at ELynah contribute some money each to buy the stick and donate it to the team?

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Could we at ELynah contribute some money each to buy the stick and donate it to the team?

That's a great idea.

[JReed79]

BMac, sent you a PM regarding your idea...

[BMac]

Jay, the seller has contacted me. The price he mentioned is pretty high, so I think we'd need quite a few contributors to make it work. I will ask him to post it on this thread himself.

If people are interested, I'm happy to take PMs with potential contributions.