John Flesch, 1981-83 Milwaukee Admirals
Laker Years: 1972 - 73 NHL Games: 124 Career Stats
Jersey: Medalist Sand-Knit, Size Medium, NNOB, Team-made fightstrap, Moderate wear with 3 team repirs, un-repaired holes, paint transfers, board burns, and stick marks
Acquired From: Collector LOA: None
Notes: Flesch was the second Laker to ever appear in the NHL...following only Jim Wiley. He played in a total of 124 NHL games over 4 seasons with 3 different teams. About the same time I was watching my first Laker game, Flesch was playing with the Milwaukee Admirals from 1980-84. As for the jersey itself, I absolutley love the skating admiral logo...they just don't make logos like that anymore! The number on the front is also fairly unique for the time period. This is the oldest jersey in my collection and easily one of my favorites!
Paul Jerrard, 1990-91 Kalamazoo Wings
Laker Years: 1983 - 87 NHL Games: 5 Career Stats
Jersey: HiLi Ice Sheen, Size XL, w/ "A", Shortened sleeves, Shows heavy wear with many un-repaired holes, paint transfers, stick marks through out
Acquired From: Collector LOA: None
Notes: For the most part, Paul was a career minor leaguer who has transitioned that into a successful coaching career. His time in the NHL consisted of 5 games with the Minnesota North Stars in 1988-89. Click here for a good article on Paul. I just might be amongst Paul's first coaching pupils as he was one of my instructors at the Lake State hockey camp back in the mid '80's!
Paul Jerrard, 1991-92 Kalamazoo Wings
Laker Years: 1983 - 87 NHL Games: 5 Career Stats
Jersey: CCM, Maska Air-Knit, Size XL, w/ "A", Photo-Matched, Shows good wear with many team repairs, un-repaired holes, board burns, stick marks through out
Acquired From: Collector LOA: None
Notes: Paul's black jersey from his 4th year with the K-Wings.
Paul Jerrard, 1995-96 Hershey Bears
Laker Years: 1983 - 87 NHL Games: 5 Career Stats
Jersey: CCM, Air Knit, Size 54, AHL 60th Year Patch, Bears Shoulder Patch, BC/BS Sponsor Patch, Shows good wear with un-repaired holes, board burns, and stick marks through out.
Acquired From: Collector LOA: None
Notes: Paul spent 3 seasons playing for the Hershey Bears and would later spend 2 years there as an assistant coach.
Dan Keczmer, 1997-98 Michigan K-Wings
Laker Years: 1986 - 90 NHL Games: 247 Career Stats
Jersey: Bauer Pro, Size 56, 30 yr PHPA Patch, Shows good overall wear with stick and puck marks throughout
Acquired From: Dealer - Hockey Gallery LOA: None
Notes: Dan spent most of his professional career bouncing between the NHL and the minor leagues. This jersey was used during his '97-98 stint with the Dallas Stars minor league affiliate, the Michigan K-Wings. Although I'm sure Dan would have preferred playing in the big league, playing close to home in Kalamazoo may have been the next best thing.
Bruce Hoffort, 1991-92 San Diego Gulls
Laker Years: 1987 - 89 NHL Games: 9 Career Stats
Jersey: CCM, Maska Ultrafil, Size 54, Shows light wear with a couple black marks
Acquired From: Ebay LOA: None
Notes: Hoffort's three year professional career, which included stints with the Phildelphia Flyers, came to an unceremonious end with the San Diego Gulls of the IHL in 1992. It is quite possible this is the last jersey Bruce ever wore as a professional.
Jim Dowd, 1998-99 Hamilton Bulldogs
Laker Years: 1987 - 91 NHL Games: 827 Career Stats
Jersey: Bauer Pro, Size 54, Chrysler Patch, Shows very good overall wear with 7 repairs in the left sleeve and 1 in the right, and several stick marks
Acquired From: Dealer - Hockey Gallery LOA: Team
Notes: Although he has spent most of his career playing in the NHL, Jim spent most of the '98-99 season playing for the Edmonton Oilers minor league affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL. That Season, the Oilers had a log jam at the center position which included former Laker teammate Doug Weight.
Jim Dowd, 1999 AHL All-Star
Laker Years: 1987 - 91 NHL Games: 827+ Career Stats
Jersey: Bauer, Size 54, AHL All-Star Patch, First Union Sponsor Patch, Game Issued
Acquired From: Meigray Auction LOA: Meigray
Notes: While playing in Hamilton, Jim was elected to the AHL All-Star team. He did not play in the game and I do not know why...whether it was because of injury or call up to the Oilers. If someone out there knows, please do tell!
Doug Weight, 1991-92 Binghamton Rangers
Laker Years: 1989 - 91 NHL Games: 1228+ Career Stats
Jersey: CCM, Mesh, Size 52, White stripes dyed blue from team washings, Shows good wear with several team repairs, paint transfers, board burns and stick marks
Acquired From: Collector LOA: Meigray
Notes: During Doug's first full professional season, he spent 9 games playing for New York's minor league affiliate, the Binghamton Rangers. This was the only time Doug ever spent in the minor leagues.
Darrin Madeley, 1995-96 Detroit Vipers
Laker Years: 1989 - 92 NHL Games: 39 Career Stats
Jersey: Bauer ProWear, Size 56G, Shows light overall wear with heavy interior pilling and a few stick marks
Acquired From: Collector LOA: None
Notes: After following in the footsteps of Randy Exelby and Bruce Hoffort, Madeley just may mark the official start of the goaltending dynasty which would continue at Lake State for years to come. Madeley appeared in 39 NHL games over the course of 3 seasons with the Ottawa Senators from 1992-95 before retiring from professional hockey in 1999.
Clayton Beddoes, 1994-95 Providence Bruins
Laker Years: 1990 - 94 NHL Games: 60 Career Stats
Jersey: Bauer ProWear, Size 52, Citizens Bank Patch, Shows moderate overall wear with stick marks, board burns, paint transfers throughout
Acquired From: Collector LOA: Team Letter
Notes: Following his Laker career, Clayton spent three years with the Boston Bruins organization. The majority of those three years were spent with their minor league affiliate, the Providence Bruins of the AHL. After his stint with the Bruins, he bounced around from the Detroit Vipers of the IHL to the DEL in Germany and finally to Italy before retiring in 2002.
Rob Valicevic, 2004-05 Flint Generals
Laker Years: 1991 - 95 NHL Games: 193 Career Stats
Jersey: OT,
Size 58, Miller Lite Sponsor Patch, Taco Bell Sponsor Patch, "C" removed, shows very good wear
with huge repairs along the front bottom, blood stains on right shoulder, unrepaired holes, stick marks, board burns, paint transfers
Acquired From: Classic Auctions LOA: None
Notes: After spending parts of 6 seasons playing in the NHL, Rob spent the '04-05 season playing close to home with the Flint Generals of UHL. Following this season, he moved to Europe where he would spend a couple seasons playing in the DEL.
Mike Matteucci, Late 90's Long Beach Ice Dogs
Laker Years: 1992 - 96 NHL Games: 6 Career Stats
Jersey: Bauer ProWear, Size 56, Sleeve Inserts, Shows good overall wear with stick marks and board burns throughout
Acquired From: Collector LOA: None
Notes: Mike's cup of coffee in the NHL consisted of three games with the Minnesota Wild in 2000-01 and another three with the Wild in 2001-02. Matteucci became a fairly well known enforcer in the minor leagues while racking up over 1500 penalty minutes in his career.
John Grahame, 2007-08 Albany River Rats, Home Set 1
Laker Years: 1994 - 97 NHL Games: 230 Career Stats
Jersey: Reebok Edge, Size 58G, Cargill Sponsor Patch, Shows light wear, slightly torn around top right of crest, couple small puck marks on chest
Acquired From: Meigray LOA: Meigray
Notes: In early January, Grahame was sent to Albany after he cleared waivers from the Hurricanes. This jersey was worn in his River Rat debut on 1/5. After 7 games with Albany, he was recalled to Carolina on 1/22. John's NHL career appears to be over after signing with Avangard Omsk of the Russian Super League at seasons end.
Bates Battaglia, 1998 AHL All-Star
Laker Years: 1994 - 97 NHL Games: 622 Career Stats
Jersey: Bauer Pro, Size 54, AHL All-Star Patch, IcePro Sponsor Patch, Shows light wear
Acquired From: Meigray Auction LOA: Meigray
Notes: Bates started his professional career with the New Haven Beast of the AHL and was elected to the AHL All-Star team in only his first year. He would eventually be called up to the Hurricanes that same year and not appear in the AHL again until after the NHL lockout season.
Bates Battaglia, 2007-08 Toronto Marlies, Home Set 1
Laker Years: 1994 - 97 NHL Games: 622 Career Stats
Jersey: Reebok Edge, Size 58, McDonalds Sponsor Patch, Shows light to moderate wear with various holes, pilling and stick marks
Acquired From: Meigray LOA: Meigray
Notes: After not playing much for the Leafs, Toronto sent Bates down to the Marlies in mid-December for a "conditioning stint". This "stint" endued up lasting the rest of the season.
Derek Smith, 2007-08 Binghamton Senators
Laker Years: 2004-07 NHL Games: 0 Career Stats
Jersey: Reebok Edge, Size 56, 2008 AHL All-Star Patch, Shows light to moderate wear with stick marks, unrepaired holes, and thread snags
Acquired From: Binghamton Senators LOA: Team
Notes: Derek is the latest Laker prospect with a legit chance at making it to the big league. Let's hope he soon becomes the 25th Laker to play in the NHL!
