The Wayne Gretzky of Wayne Gretzky Collectors and the Fort Mac Fire

[RGM81]

Scary stuff for one of the most notable Gretzky collectors in the hobby:

http://www.torontosun.com/2016/05/09...lost-the-hobby

Shawn Chaulk, the Fort McMurray man who owns hundreds of jerseys and sticks used by many of the game's greatest players, says he frantically stuffed jerseys into hockey bag before fleeing the flames last week.
He figures he took about 50 jerseys and the four Wayne Gretzky-used sticks he's saving for his children.
The dozens of other sticks, helmets and other items from players including Gretzky and Mark Messier remain at his home, which has been untouched by the flames.
But Chaulk isn't sure how much enthusiasm he retains for his hobby.

[creasecollector]

Definitely scary stuff for sure. Makes you think.

[Cunnuc]

When I first heard about this fire my first thought, honestly, was the sports collections out there. I say this only because of any one city in Canada I have sent to the most, Fort Mac is definitely at the top. I figured it was mainly because of the oil money. I know when I did fly-in / fly-out in Saskatoon in 2008 I was making killer money and that is one thing that got me back into collecting. I had no idea there was such a collection in Fort Mac like the one in the article above.

I know when it comes to forest fires threatening homes that almost every time everyone is safe but just thinking ofthose irreplaceable belongings makes me sad. I would be devastated if something similar happened to even my small collections.

[Rraincock]

Although I am glad the collection made it through the fire, I am saddened that so much has happened in Ft. McMurray. So many people have lost everything. Some have lost their lives (2 kids, last I had heard).

When it comes down to it... community matters. Glad to see Shawn made it out ok with his kids and wife.

Glad the Gretzky stuff made it too... the fire adds as much to the story of those jerseys as all those Gretzky goals.

[Sharky94]

I hope this publicity doesn't bring out any looters. He'll be lucky to get back to his house and NOT see it broken into...

[Rraincock]

There is a LOT of security around Ft. McMurray right now. LOTS.

[rockband]

That's only one... There are many collectors with huge collections in Fort Mac, and I'm guessing a few collections got burnt in the fires. And home insurances only cover $1,000 in collectibles.