Rogie Vachon's Mask Headlines New Auction

Earlier this year Classic Auctions made national headlines with their $1.2 million sale of Paul Henderson's game worn jersey from the 1972 Summit Series.

They have now opened up their next auction, with the Rogie Vachon collection figuring prominently.

Vachon, despite a degree of anonymity due to playing Los Angeles in the 1970s, is regarded as one of the top goalies in hockey during his era. He debuted in the late 1960s as the heir apparent in Montreal before becoming, literally and figuratively, the saving grace of Kings for the following decade. He is also famous for his spectacular play in the 1976 Canada Cup tournament, backstopping Canada to a win in the inaugural tournament.

From his 1968 Stanley Cup ring with Montreal to his game worn 1976 Canada Cup jersey, to trophy replicas and game worn all star game jerseys, the collection up for auction is impressive.

But the ultimate item in this auction has to be Vachon's game worn goalie mask he iconically wore with the Los Angeles Kings.

This particular mask was worn from 1976 through 1978. Here's more directly from the auction listing:  "This vintage mask, built by famed mask-maker Ernie Higgins, is coated in a thick layer of purple paint and shows loads of game wear with dozens of paint chips and puck marks. A few small damaged areas appear where the fiberglass has cracked slightly below the left eye and again up at the top on the left side."

I know a lot of fans collect replicas of such famous masks, but a chance to own the real deal is rare. That being said, the asking price has already far exceeded my spending ability.

The new auction, which runs through November 16th, features nearly 1100 items. I'll look at a few more items in the coming days.