Game-Worn Jersey Expo With Stretch

by Stephen Pepper on Jun 19, 2009 5:39 PM EDT

The game-worn jersey juggernaut MeiGray is having its sixth annual Game-Worn Jersey Expo on July 11, 2009 at the Raritan Valley Community College Conference Center in North Branch, NJ.

This afternoon, I received an update that the expo will feature "some of the greatest game-worn jerseys in hockey history," including Paul Henderson's 1972 Summit Series-winning "Goal-Scored" jersey vs. the USSR and . . .

Washington Capitals' Emergency Goalie Brett Leonhardt's red 2008-09 Bench-Worn Jersey.

Stretch himself will be a featured guest at the show. From the release:

Brett Leonhardt will be on hand to tell us what it was like to be thrust into emergency duty, and what it was like to actually wear a National Hockey League gamer on the bench with Alex Ovechkin, Mike Green, Sergei Fedorov and the rest of the Washington Capitals as a backup to Jose Theodore.

The feel-good story continues!

The Expo is about a three and a half hour drive north from DC. This hotel is offering a special "MEIGRAY EXPO" room rate. For more details and to register for the event, call 908-541-0114.

Update [June 22, 2009, 4:07 PM EDT]: Some of you expressed great concern that, perhaps, Stretch was parting with his historic bench-worn sweater from last December's home contest vs. Ottawa. Fear not. I spoke to Stretch this afternoon, who confirmed that the jersey is absolutely not for sale. In keeping with the (New) Jersey theme, it's going to be properly "kept in the family." (By the way, the Capitals, in addition to ensuring that Brett keeps those synthetic red threads for all time, presented him earlier with a plaque including the official game sheet, his ATO contract, and game puck.) He'll be at the July 11th expo to answer questions about his experience on that historic December day, with the jersey simply on display.

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Leonhardt = legend

Rockin' the Red in Section 412

by boutros23 on Jun 19, 2009 5:41 PM EDT reply actions

He’s certainly cooler than I’ll ever be.

by :hsughrofl: on Jun 19, 2009 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Wasn’t he backing up Brent Johnson?

by Kerry Fraser's Hairspray on Jun 19, 2009 6:31 PM EDT reply actions

Yep.

by RedBirdie on Jun 19, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha I remember being at that game against Ottawa when they showed him on the jumbotron. Pretty confused to say the least. Fun game though, Friday night blow-out.

by bigmac1124 on Jun 19, 2009 7:36 PM EDT reply actions

I remember being at that game too. I knew at the time that Theodore had gone down, but had been busy with work and was still in the “Neuvirth’s backing up” mode. Then I was told on the way there that it wouldn’t be Neuvirth, but someone said it’d be Varly.

So when I got there, I spotted the second goalie and said to self, “That must be Varlamov,” then looked on the back of his jersey to confirm – and nearly died laughing when I saw the Leonhardt on the back of the jersey. I watched warmups oh-so-carefully, and was impressed. I’m like “wow, he’s not bad either”. The game was awesome, although I would have liked to see them put him in if only for a few minutes. I knew why they didn’t, though.

Man, what a cool night. I might actually go to this.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Jun 19, 2009 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions