Last NHLer with tube skates?

[Tubesteak 1]

Tried to google/forum search this one with no luck. Who was the last to wear the old style steel holders?

[DarkStar50 679]

Tuuks were introduced in the mid 70s. While it will be pretty hard to get your answer, if you search OPC and Topps hockey cards with full player pictures, that will help you narrow down the year that you last see any player with tubular steel set-ups. My guess is no player wore them by 78 or 79.

[jsykes 35]

Gordie Howe played one year in the 79/80 season with the Whalers, I saw him play that year and he still used steel skates at least part of the season. I found photos of him in Whalers uniforms with both steel blades and with Tuuks.

http://www.classicauctions.net/Default.aspx?tabid=263&auctionid=52&lotid=356

[shooter27 116]

Somewhat off-topic, but in the same vein - From the game tapes I've seen I believe some of the Russian players at the 1980 Olympics were wearing tube skates.

[jimmy 194]

Off topic as well, but man aren't all those Coopers in the pic sweeeeet! Gloves, goal equip, helmets, that's money right there.

I have about 10,000 old hockey cards, I'll have to go thru the 80's ones and see if I can find any tubers.

[DarkStar50 679]

Off topic as well, but man aren't all those Coopers in the pic sweeeeet! Gloves, goal equip, helmets, that's money right there.

I have about 10,000 old hockey cards, I'll have to go thru the 80's ones and see if I can find any tubers.

jimmy,

My favorite is the Koho 221 woodie. That was a well made HAND crafted stick!

Al Sims, # 3, is using a Canadien 6001 fibreglas stick as well. The rainbow sticker on the shaft is the identifier for me. He is also wearing Micron skates while Gordie has on Super Tacks.

[toddmanley 0]

Al Sims, # 3, is using a Canadien 6001 fibreglas stick as well. The rainbow sticker on the shaft is the identifier for me. He is also wearing Micron skates while Gordie has on Super Tacks.

I have an old 7001 (if I remember correctly...) sitting in my garage. My dad brought it home one night back in the mid-80's after a Portland Winterhawks game; he did some work on the side that gave him access to the locker room. Too bad I destroyed the other sticks playing street hockey as a kid.

[shotty 7]

love that 2nd pic.

[DarkStar50 679]

love that 2nd pic.

That picture was taken in the Montreal Forum.

[Tubesteak 1]

Thanks for the pics. My guess was Gordie too but couldn't find a pic to support it.

[jsykes 35]

Saw an old game tonight from the 1980 finals, Isles vs. Flyers. There were a handful of guys still wearing tube skates in that game. Most notable I could ID was Trottier for the Isles.

[shooter27 116]

Saw an old game tonight from the 1980 finals, Isles vs. Flyers. There were a handful of guys still wearing tube skates in that game. Most notable I could ID was Trottier for the Isles.

Saw a qick clip from the '81 finals tonight and again, a couple guys on each side were wearing tube blades.

[dsjunior1388 81]

Watching videos on Bauer.com, and saw this one, which features an ad from the 70's or '80s featuring Guy LeFleur, Lanny McDonald, Bobby Clarke and I believe Darryl Sittler, and Lanny Mac is wearing tube skates. It's at the 40 second mark.

http://www.bauer.com/videos/6318-BAUER

[DarkStar50 679]

Lanny McDonald was traded to Colorado in the 79-80 season from Toronto. I believe this ad would be from the late 70s. Original Tuuks were black, then clear, then white. Good find on this ad. I remember seeing a print version of this, probably in an NHL game program.

[dsjunior1388 81]

Lanny McDonald was traded to Colorado in the 79-80 season from Toronto. I believe this ad would be from the late 70s. Original Tuuks were black, then clear, then white. Good find on this ad. I remember seeing a print version of this, probably in an NHL game program.

Did a little more digging on Google and found this shot of Lanny in a Flames uniform with tube skates.

He hasn't been named team captain yet, so this shot is either 81-82 or 82-83.

[DarkStar50 679]

Lanny wearing the Koho 750 gloves. Tom Fergus of the Bruins behind him. 81-82 was Fergus' rookie year and Lanny's first year in Calgary. Keep digging.

[dsjunior1388 81]

Lanny wearing the Koho 750 gloves. Tom Fergus of the Bruins behind him. 81-82 was Fergus' rookie year and Lanny's first year in Calgary. Keep digging.

Here's another shot of Lanny pre-captaincy, and it's hard to tell but I think he's wearing Tuuks. Safe to say Lanny was wearing tube skates in 81, possibly 82, but no later than that.