With salaries of professional hockey players severely lacking behind those of other sports, promoters Dennis Murphy and Gary Davidson founded the World Hockey Association, an alternate league to compete directly with the NHL in major cities that lacked hockey teams. By offering higher salaries, the WHA attracted a flood of NHL talent, including Bernie Parent, Derek Sanderson, J.C. Tremblay, Ted Green, the NHLs biggest name, Bobby Hull, and superstar goaltender, Gerry Cheevers. The Boston Bruins attempted to restrain Cheevers from joining the WHA, but a United States federal court refused to prohibit the signing. Cheevers joined the Cleveland Crusaders, playing 3 ½ seasons between the pipes and winning 99 games, making him the #9 winningest goalie in the history of the short-lived league. Cheevers returned to Boston and resumed his stellar NHL career toward the end of the 1975-76 season and played four more years for the Bruins, capping off this Hall of Fame career in 1980. Cheevers' iconic “stitch-pattern” goaltender mask, a tribute to what his face might look like had he not worn it, is widely considered the greatest mask ever used in the NHL.
Accompanying the home jersey also being offered in this auction, this game-used Crusaders WHA road hockey sweater was worn by Gerry Cheevers during his years in Cleveland. As with the home jersey, the appropriate Rawling size 50 label is stitched into the back of the collar, with tackle twill stitched identifiers and team logo. Good game use is exhibited, with various stick marks, blood stains, and scuffing evidenced throughout. LOA from Mile High Card Co.