The World’s Oldest Hockey Stick – A Piece of Canadian Heritage

The world’s oldest hockey stick could fetch more than $1 million. ((CBC))

What would you do if you owned the world’s oldest hockey stick? Would you hang it on your wall? That’s what George Ferneough did. He hung it on the wall of his barber shop. Would you use it? Well it is said to have been used over 170 years ago, made for W.M. Moffatt. Or would you sell it? Mr Ferneough did that too; he sold it for $1000 to a man named Mark Presley. That was before either of them knew just how old, and valuable, the stick was.

Imagine being George Ferneough. How was he to know what he had in his barber shop? It doesn’t look quite as impressive as its story is. Mark Presley took a gamble, and then began to investigate the stick’s origins. The maple used to carve the stick luckily had a knot on the butt end of the shaft. Ideal for dating analysis because of the rings showing, it was dated back to the 1830’s. That was also the time that young W.M. Moffatt was growing up. The analysis also detected four types of paint common from eras long since past.

Mr. Presley found that he had purchased something special indeed. No stick has ever been found that proves to be as old as this one. He is opting to go with sell rather than use or display the stick. I think I might choose the same considering it could sell for over 2 million dollars! Not a bad investment for this 41-year-old Nova Scotia Native. This chunk of maple is going to be sought after by collectors willing to pay crazy dollars for a splinter of Canadian history. Just for a basis of comparison, a similar stick was sold in 2006 for 2.1 million. That stick is about 150 years old.

Personally I would like to see the stick end up in a museum. It belongs somewhere where it can be seen by hockey fans from all over the country, and world. It’s hard to imagine what hockey would have been like so long ago. It is a piece of Canadian Heritage, but it is even older than Canada itself. That’s what makes the stick so precious, seeing it is like looking back in time.

…and that is the last word.

5 Comments

1. 

   Mike

   November 9, 2011 at 4:06 pm

   Scotty, well done. Great article!

   Reply
2. 

   mark presley

   November 9, 2011 at 5:48 pm

   Hello, my name is Mark Presley and I am the owner of the Moffatt stick. My research odyssey began as a simple effort to learn the stick’s age. I have been fortunate to have met many insightful and passionate contributors with backgrounds in a variety of disciplines, during the stick’s research. Ironically, the research has served as the catalyst in my decision to return to school to formally study history. It would be my preference to lease/loan the stick in an effort to pay for my studies, rather than sell. I am in agreement that the best setting for the Moffatt stick may be a ‘national institution’ such as a museum, so that it can be appreciated by many. The artefact was witness to the transformation from ‘hurley on ice’ to ‘hockey’ as it was used from the 1830′s – 1880′s. It is astounding to comprehend that the stick’s provenance coupled with scientific evidence, provides vital clues to hockey’s origins. It remains my goal to write a book that documents the Moffatt stick story. I thank you for providing a balanced, non-judgemental account with your article. I am most proud that from purchase to research initiatives, I have always been fair, honest, respectful and transparent. Few people, particularly journalists, have taken the time to learn the truth regarding these aspects. This in spite of the fact that I have always been available to answer any and all questions. Thank you, sincerely- Mark Presley

   Reply
   • 

     Pauline Sharpe

     January 25, 2012 at 3:43 pm

     My name is Pauline Sharpe, I am 1 of 3 granddaughters of Charles Moffatt. I have pictures of Warren Moffatt, and also Thomas Moffatt in his later years, also Warren Moffatts signature, who I believe signed the stick. Why has no one contacted us?, people know the pictures and us are here.Much more to this story!

     Reply
     • 

       Mike

       January 25, 2012 at 8:12 pm

       Pauline,
       Would love to hear more. Perhaps contact us at LastWordArmy@gmail.com and let me know how else I can help bring the story to light.
       Best,
       Mike

       Reply
3. 

   ScottyJ

   November 9, 2011 at 8:43 pm

   Thanks for responding to my article Mark. Writing a book about the stick would be a great idea. It is a very interesting story. I collected the story from many different sources. I hope that the information I collected was accurate.

   Reply