Leave a "Penney" Take a "Penney": Full Gear Set (7) of a 1980s Goalie! Epic Post Within!

[IrbeFan4Life]

Helloeveryone, I am back for a second straight day with a huge lot of gear today. Idebated on splitting this into seven days, but I figured I may as well treateveryone to something epic! From the lowly chest protector to a game worn mask,we've got it in here. Give yourself a few minutes, read and enjoy the picturesthat accompany this. Any questions and comments, are certainly welcome and Ialways read them!

Today'sgoalie was born on February 2, 1961 at Ste. Foy, Quebec. His name, Steve Penney.A competent goalie with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL from 1978-1981,Steve Penney was selected 166th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1980NHL draft. Penney spent two seasons in the minors in both the AHL and IHLbefore the 1983-84 campaign. In that '83-84 campaign, Penney played mostly inthe AHL, however, right at the conclusion of the season he appeared in four NHLgames with the Canadiens and recorded four straight losses between March21-March 29, 1984. With that limited experience, he was thrust between thepipes for the playoffs, and hopes seemed low despite the more experiencedpresences of Richard Sevigny and Rick Wamsley in Montreal. However, hesurprised by leading the Habs to a three game sweep of the Bruins, all whilesurrendering only two goals on 76 shots and recording a shutout. In the nextround, he faired equally as well taking the Nordiques to six games and earningthe series win and also recording another shutout in the fifth game. The nextround saw the Habs facing the dynasty Islanders squad. The Canadiens surprisedby taking the first two games, and getting Penney another shutout in the firstgame. After those two games, the Isles' momentum shifted and they ended upwinning the series in six and eventually they lost to the Oilers in the CupFinal that year. Penney showed that he had what it takes to be a star goalie inthe league.

Thefollowing season he became the undisputed starter of the Canadiens, appearingin 54 games with the club and recording a 26-18-8 record with one shutout, a3.08GAA, and a 0.876% save average (all very good numbers for the era). Aninjury he sustained that season also allowed for Patrick Roy to make his NHLdebut. Once again, however, Steve Penney was the go-to guy and he got the Habsout of the first round of the playoffs with an additional shutout performance,however fell to the Nordiques in overtime of game seven in the second round. In1985-86, he became number two to Patrick Roy, and injuries derailed his spot onthe Canadiens. Though the team won the Cup and he was eligible to have his nameon the Stanley Cup due to injury exemption, the team did not include him. Hedid get a Stanley Cup ring out of it, though he reported it stolen many yearslater when he left it in a locker room and it was looted. After the '85-86season, he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets, however, knee injuries limitedPenney to 15 games with the team over two seasons and a short AHL stint beforehe was forced to retire at the age of 26.

In91 regular season games, he recorded a 35-38-12 record with one shutout, a3.62GAA, and a 0.859% save average. In 27 playoff games, he recorded a 15-12record with four shutouts, a 2.69GAA, and a 0.890% save average.

Andnow for the pieces:

Firstup, we have a game worn chest protector used by Steve Penney at some point inhis NHL career between Montreal and Winnipeg. The lack of padding within iseye-opening considering how padded goalies are nowadays. My ball hockey chestprotector protects more than this one.

Acquiredfrom: Classic Auctions

Datesof Game Use: Unknown

Photomatched:No







Nextup we have a pair of CCM skates worn by Steve Penney while with the MontrealCanadiens. While not definitively photomatched, I found a pair of really goodphoto-references with similar wear on the CCM stickers from his NHL debut season.May or may not be a match.

Acquiredfrom: Classic Auctions

Datesof Game Use: Unknown

Photomatched:Possibly, referenced for now.






Thirdon our acquisitions list a pair of CCM goalie pants worn by Steve Penney whilea member of the Winnipeg Jets. Wear is very nice, the Jets logo adorns thepants, and despite how gross it is to an outside viewer, this is a beauty in myeyes.

Acquiredfrom: Classic Auctions

Datesof Game Use: 1986-88 with Winnipeg Jets

Photomatched:No









Fourthon our list is a game-worn Cooper glove worn by Steve Penney while with theMontreal Canadiens. Detailed enough photos of the glove from the era could notbe located, however, it is very convincingly photo-references as he used thisexact model of glove in the 1984-85 season.

Acquiredfrom: Classic Auctions

Datesof Game Use: Unknown

Photomatched:Referenced







Fifthon our grand show is a game worn Jofa blocker worn by Penney in his NHL debutseason, including NHL debut, playoff debut, and it is definitely photomatchedto his use of it in the 1984 Eastern Conference Finals against the New YorkIslanders. A skate slice on the thumb piece of the blocker is visible in bothphoto and on the blocker in my collection. A Stunning piece!

Acquiredfrom: Classic Auctions

Datesof Game Use: 1983-84 season and first part of 1984-85 season.

Photomatched:YES







Sixthon our presentation today is a pair of game worn Jofa pads worn by StevePenney. A beauty example of old school pads, their natural beige colorcontinues to amaze, and their combined weight is almost equal to four padstoday. With marks, slashes, and repairs visible these easily photomatched padswere used in his entire NHL debut season and throughout those playoffs andpossibly into later seasons with the Habs.

Acquiredfrom: Classic Auctions

Datesof Game Use: 1983-84 season and possibly more

Photomatched:YES


















Andfinally, we come to the bucket. Right here is one of the Cooper masks thatSteve Penney wore while with the Winnipeg Jets. As there are no decals on themask, it eliminates Montreal use. Beauty wear, rusting, cracking, and othersuch filth highlight this very well used mask. The only tough thing is I havebeen unable to photomatch it due to locating only four total photos of Penneywith the Jets and a grainy video which shows little detail. More research tofollow.

Acquiredfrom: Classic Auctions

Datesof Game Use: 1986-88 with Winnipeg Jets

Photomatched:Not yet, more research to follow!

[creasecollector]

Wow, this is just awesome. So much history with these pieces. Incredible job tracking down a complete set. It's always fun learning about goalies who might be lesser-known. They are just as much apart of hockey history as the Marty Brodeur, etc, etc. Nice to hear their story & see some great vintage gear in the process!