From Classic Auctions: In 1976, a faltering Orr was selected to represent his nation for the first time at the 1976 Canada Cup tournament. Bobby's knee, ravaged by operations every summer, was virtually without cartilage. He had played only ten games with the Bruins the previous season before requiring more surgery and rehabilitation, but he refused to allow injury to prevent him from playing in the inaugural Canada Cup, the first best-on-best featuring Canada and Europe.
The best-of-three finals pitted the Canadians against Czechoslovakia, and Canada began with an impressive 6-0 win in which Bobby scored twice including one that came on his trade-mark rush down the right wing to pot one over the glove of netminder Vladimir Dzurilla. After Canada's historic victory in the second and final outing, finishing on Sittler's memorable goal, Bobby Orr, who led Canada with nine points, was named the tournament MVP. Wondrous white knit with the heavily-screened rubberized red name, numbers and Team Canada demi-leaf design was worn by Bobby Orr throughout the international tourney.
Who can forget the emotional celebratory scene following Canada's victory when both teams met at center ice to shake hands and exchange jerseys. Pete Mahovlich found the Czech player with the jersey number matching his own and soon after, every other participant on the ice followed suit. Bobby swapped shirts with Czech star Oldrich Machac and this jersey remained in Machac's collection from that day to this.
Bidding ends on November 1st.
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