The son of a popular former Canuck from the 70s is asking the team’s fans for help.
Court Lalonde’s father, Robert Patrick Lalonde, known as Bobby Lalonde, was a forward with the team from 1971 to 1982.
However, the family does not have a jersey to commemorate Bobby’s time with the Canucks.
“My dad loved playing in the NHL. He loved playing for the Vancouver Canucks. (He’s) very proud of that. But we don’t really have anything besides hockey cards,” Court said. “I don’t even have a video from when he played.”
Court says his dad would probably cry if he was able to bring him a jersey.
“I can find stuff every now and then on YouTube, but there weren’t any records kept besides paper records and stuff that you can sort of pull up on the internet,” he said.
Court says he has come across some people who had his father’s jersey but they were not willing to sell it. He also wants people to know he’s willing to pay for a jersey.
“I offered 1200 bucks at the time, so suppose that’s what I was told the fair market value was, but to me, it’s priceless like it’s not about the money, it’s just about having a piece of our family history back,” he said. “I’m not looking for someone to give it to me (for free). I’m just looking if it’s out there and I just want to buy it.”
Court says when a player gets drafted for the NHL it’s an accomplishment, and the first thing the player receives is a jersey — which is very special.
“My daughter’s jersey from last year, we’ve hung it up on the wall,” he said.
He says finding his dad’s jersey would be finding a “symbol” of playing in the NHL.
“It means so much just to have that crest back in the family,” he said. “It was the first team my dad ever played for.”
The dedicated son says if he were to find the jersey he would give it to his dad, but eventually, it would go to his daughter.
“Then that would stay in our family forever. It would never leave,” Court said.
Court says he knows there are jerseys out there, and hopes he can get his hands on one.