1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Orland Kurtenbach #141 Vancouver Canucks

Description

1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Orland Kurtenbach #141 Vancouver Canucks Lead your Canucks collection with the captain himself in this 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Orland Kurtenbach #141 Vancouver Canucks card, featuring the first captain in Vancouver Canucks NHL history and one of the most respected leaders of the expansion era. Orland Kurtenbach was born in Saskatchewan in 1936 and was a veteran of over 600 NHL games with New York, Boston, Toronto, and Vancouver, known as a tough, hard nosed center who could fight, score, and protect his teammates. When Vancouver entered the NHL in 1970, Kurtenbach was selected as the club's first captain, setting the tone for the franchise with his work ethic and physical play. He scored the Canucks first ever goal at home and was a fan favorite at the Pacific Coliseum. In 1971-72 he played his 500th NHL game, a milestone noted on many cards of the era. This 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee card shows Kurtenbach wearing the C in the white Canucks uniform against the hot pink background, in a low center stance ready for a faceoff. The set is prized for its bold colors and the inclusion of Canucks legends. This is the Canadian O-Pee-Chee version with the bilingual English and French back and cartoon illustration referencing his 500th game, not a puzzle back, printed in Canada with full career stats and bilingual biography describing his reputation as a fighter who sometimes obscures his overall talent. Front shows corners with light softening, top left and bottom right slightly rounded, edge chipping is minimal, gloss is good, centering is about 60/40 left to right and 55/45 top to bottom, no creases or print lines. The back shows light even toning, sharp print, no stains or writing, slight corner wear, no bends, supporting a conservative EX 5 grade that acknowledges light vintage wear but strong presentation for a Canucks captain card. The 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Orland Kurtenbach #141 Vancouver Canucks is a must have for Canucks captains collection, expansion era historians, and Vancouver fans who cherish the original leaders of the franchise. Grade Estimate: EX 5