1965-68 CPHL Houston Apollos
# 1 Goaltender Game Worn Jersey
The Houston Apollos of the Central Professional Hockey League 1965-68 were a farm team of the NHL Montreal Canadiens. The league was a pipeline for young prospects to get seasoned in the Professional hockey without playing too heavy a style as was exemplified in the AHL, IHL and EHL leagues that were also feeders for the parent clubs.
The goaltenders of this league were young prodigies that had a real shot at making it to the NHL and some veteran goalies that were there to develop and also help the young goaltenders develop along the way. In the case of the Houston Apollos, that was the case for several of their goaltenders including: Gerry Desjardins, Carl Wetzel, Rogie Vachon, Rocky Farr, Ernie Wakely, Phil Myre and Tony Esposito.
It is difficult to determine who of these goaltenders would have worn this jersey due to the strong similarity in the jersey styles worn each season. So suffice to say, the goaltender who wore this jersey will likely remain a mystery, but the story it tells of the strong system of goaltenders in the Montreal system will remain a part of it's mystique and beauty.
The 1960's were the decade of the Apollo missions out of NASA. The rocket ship symbol is created to form the team's crest with "Apollos" chain stitched inside. The colours of the jersey itself, red, blue and white represent their affiliation to the NHL Montreal Canadiens.
A beautiful jersey and the only goaltender jersey I have witnessed from this storied minor league team.