A hockey stick believed to have belonged to and been autographed by Bill Barilko — the Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman who famously scored the overtime Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1951 before tragically dying in a plane crash later that summer — is now up for auction.
Miller and Miller Auctions, located in New Hamburg, Ontario, is offering the “game-issued” wooden stick from the 1950-51 season. The stick features a stamped number “5,” which was Barilko’s jersey number that season, indicating it was issued to him, according to the auction house.
Barilko, born in Timmins, Ontario, played 252 NHL games, all with the Maple Leafs over five seasons. Known for his physical play, he earned the nickname “Bashin’ Bill.” His legendary overtime goal in Game 5 of the 1951 Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens secured Toronto’s fourth championship in five years—and marked the final goal of his career.
That August, Barilko disappeared during a fishing trip to James Bay when the small plane he was in crashed. His remains weren’t discovered until 11 years later, just weeks after the Leafs captured their next Stanley Cup in 1962. His story would later inspire The Tragically Hip’s song Fifty-Mission Cap.
Benjamin Pernfuss, the consignment director for sports at Miller and Miller, described the stick as a rare and thrilling find. “It’s one of those pieces that gives you a real rush to hold — like you’re touching a piece of history,” he told CBC’s The Morning Edition.
The stick shows signs of actual game use, including wear and tape consistent with Barilko’s known playing style, though the auction house cannot definitively confirm whether it was used in a game. It also bears the stamp of Love & Bennett, the company that supplied sticks to the Leafs at the time.
According to Miller and Miller, the stick was allegedly gifted to the owner of a Northern Ontario cottage who hosted Leafs players during the offseason following their Cup win.
In addition to Barilko’s autograph, the stick features signatures from other 1951 Maple Leafs players, including Turk Broda, Ted Kennedy, Max Bentley, and Al Rollins. The presence of both Rollins and Tod Sloan’s signatures further confirms its origin from the 1950-51 season, the only year they both played together on the team.
The stick is expected to sell for between $3,000 and $5,000, with bidding set to close Sunday evening. However, Pernfuss believes the unique historical value could push the price much higher. “It’s a rare and significant piece of hockey history — not much of Barilko’s memorabilia exists,” he said.
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