Ice Hockey Memorabilia | Collectibles & Collectors Items

It is believed that the first game of ice hockey was played in Montreal, Canada during the 19th Century. Today, ice hockey is an Olympic sport and the most popular team sport played on ice. It is played widely in Canada and North America but has fans here in Britain also. Although it is a niche sport here in the UK, there are enthusiasts who enjoy buying and collecting ice hockey memorabilia. As with many other sports, ice hockey has been around for many decades and produced historical pieces of memorabilia.

What types of ice hockey memorabilia can you collect?
Collectors are mainly interested in collecting antique or vintage items, although there are some collectors who prefer contemporary pieces. You can collect items from professional or amateur ice hockey games, with many items signed by ice hockey stars both past and present. Many others have actually been used in ice hockey games around the world. The list below shows an exciting range of ice hockey collectibles available for collectors to buy:

Ice Hockey Trading Cards
Original Ice Hockey Programmes
Signed Ice Hockey Pucks
Signed Ice Hockey Sticks
Framed Gloves
Ice Hockey Skates
Ice Hockey Helmets
Autographed Shirts and Jerseys
Signed and Framed Limited Edition Presentations
Signed and Framed Limited Edition Photographs
Team and Individual Player Prints and Posters
Ice Hockey Books and Magazines
National Hockey League (NHL) Year Books and Magazines
Commemorative Cricket Books
Signed Cricket Caps
Signed Cards and Postcards
Complete Team Signature Sheet

Pieces of memorabilia are generally more sought after and worth more if they have been worn or used:

by famous ice hockey players
in famous international and professional league games
by players who have recently passed away

Where do you go to buy Ice Hockey Memorabilia?
Here is a choice of places to go to if you are on the look-out for ice hockey memorabilia:

Mail Order and Specialist Individual Websites
Online retailers and mail order companies are obvious places to find ice hockey memorabilia. They offer a broad range of interesting goods, with a good level of service combined with the ease and flexibility of shopping online. The brilliant thing about online shopping is the chance to purchase a much-wanted item from any where in the world! Provided that you are prepared to wait and pay the extra shipping costs, you can obtain items of memorabilia on offer worldwide. However, when shopping online, you may need to be a little vigilant.

Protect yourself from fraudulent use of your credit card by using a secure shopping website.
Organise appropriate insurance cover to safeguard against incurring extra costs should the items be damaged or lost through delivery.
Be aware that the Distance Selling Directive states that the consumer has the right to cancel the contract within a minimum of 7 working without giving any reason and without penalty.

Sports Memorabilia Auctions
Go to large online auction houses which have extensive ranges of ice hockey memorabilia offered by various UK and overseas sellers. Otherwise, try your luck by logging onto a specialist sports auction website which may have an ice hockey section. In addition to selling the items of memorabilia, these auctioneers can offer advice and valuations on any of your collectibles. Auctions can be rewarding especially if you are a skilled bidder and are able to win the item you desire! Details of sports auctions, and more general antiques auctions, can be found on specialist websites or your local newspaper. However if visiting a general antiques auction, be prepared that there may not be a huge choice of ice hockey memorabilia available.

Ice Hockey Memorabilia Collectors Clubs
For the more serious-minded collector, joining a general sports memorabilia collectors club can be a fantastic way of sharing your interests with other like-minded collectors. The internet is home to the vast majority of these types of clubs. Collectors can belong to a lively online community where they chat, make friends and discuss issues which they are passionate about. The other services provided by these collectors clubs include the writing and publication of online magazines and newsletters, and more importantly, online boutiques or e-shops where collectors can buy and sell their ice hockey memorabilia.

Publications and Websites
There are certain magazines and journals, both online and printed, which may carry advertisements selling ice hockey memorabilia. Although these magazines may be published in Canada or America, it is easy to become a UK subscriber and receive these magazines regularly by post. There are many other titles available which you can find by using your search engine, for example:

The Hockey News
Goalie's World
NHL Magazine

It may also be worth looking through specific hobby-collecting magazines such as Collectibles Magazine and Antiques & Collectibles Magazine. Browsing through the publications of individual ice hockey clubs, such as the Detroit Red Wings or the Toronto Maple Leafs could also prove useful. Lastly, the following websites may have useful links to other websites which specialise in ice hockey memorabilia:

The Internet Hockey Database
The English Ice Hockey Association
The British Ice Hockey Association

Classifieds
Listings in the printed and online versions of classifieds and directories can also be a useful resource to find unusual items of ice hockey memorabilia.

How to buy Ice Hockey Memorabilia Safely?
If buying rare or antique pieces of memorabilia, be aware of the possibility that some of these items may have suffered irreparable damage. Be prepared to accept the item in whatever condition you find it! If buying items that may be fragile or delicate, use a professional and properly-insured delivery company. If in doubt, collect the items yourself!

How to guarantee that you have purchased an authentic signed item?
Authenticity is of paramount importance when purchasing any ice hockey memorabilia. Use a reputable company that can provide guarantees of selling only genuine items. Buy from a company that:

has strong relationships with individual players, or their respective agencies.
carries out stringent checks on all their signed items using the services of an industry expert
supplies a Certificate of Authenticity with every purchase
supplies a distinctive and unique serial number with every purchase
supplies an item history including details of dates, times, and venues of the signings.