1962-64 WHL San Francisco Seals

# 18 Orland Kurtenbach and Larry Lund Game Worn Jersey

An incredible and much appreciated addition to the Canadian National Hockey Museum is this very rare and historic WHL San Francisco Seals game worn home jersey. The only other white durene from this era that I have seen, is the Len Haley jersey that also has a place in this Museum collection. 

Orland Kurtenbach was born in Cudworth, Saskatchewan and played his junior hockey with the SJHL Prince Albert Mintos. His first professional year was 1954-55 with the Saskatoon Quakers of the Western Hockey League at the age of 18. Standing 6'2" he was a strong power forward before the term became common place. In 1955 he signed a "C" form contract with the New York Rangers. As a result his professional career commenced with their farm team in the WHL, the Vancouver Canucks 1957-58 and AHL Buffalo Bisons 1958-5. He was claimed by the Boston Bruins from New York in July of 1961 in the Intra League Draft. In July of 1962 he was traded to the San Francisco Seals (WHL) by Boston with Ed Panagabko for Larry McNabb and cash. He was then traded to Toronto in 1965. He was claimed by the NY Rangers in June 1966. He suffered a serious back injury in training camp in 1968. The 1970 NHL expansion draft saw the NHL Vancouver Canucks claim his rights and he became the first captain in NHL Vancouver Canucks history.

He played a total of 639 games in the NHL scoring 119 goals and adding 213 assists and 628 penalty minutes. 

The final series for the 1962-63 WHL President's Cup was played between the San Francisco Seals and Seattle Totems. The series went to sudden death overtime in the 7th game and culminated with Orland Kurtenbach scoring the winning goal for the Seals in this very jersey!

Larry Lund would have worn this jersey in the 1963-64 season. He had a long career in the professional WHL with the San Francisco Seals, Seattle Totems and Phoenix Roadrunners. He was a member of 3 Championship teams. Once with the Seals in 1963-64 and twice with Seattle in 1966-67 and 67-68. He went on to play a long career in the WHA with the Houston Aeros winning the Avco Cup in 1973-74 and 1974-75.

This jersey shows very heavy wear in the form of over 30 team repairs. The color of the numbers and crest appears faded however upon close examination of a photo showing two players, Edmundson and Cyr, next to Len Haley, it appears that Len Haley's number and crest are darker. This would lead me to believe that there was a different set of numbers and crests used for some players in the same season. 

I am so pleased to have added this amazing sweater to the collection.