VINTAGE 1955-56 ROCHESTER ARPEAKO PACKERS WOOL PLAYER JACKET ROCHESTER AMERICANS For Sale

The 1955–56 Rochester Arpeako Packers were an amateur ice hockey team that played a vital role in bridging the gap between Rochester\'s early hockey history and the founding of the legendary Rochester Americans (Amerks). [1, 2]Sponsored by the local Arpeako Division of Tobin Packing Company, the Packers helped prove that Rochester had a passionate fanbase capable of supporting a professional franchise.After initially playing amateur games outdoors at the Genesee Valley Rink, the team moved indoors to play at the newly constructed, state-of-the-art Rochester Community War Memorial arena for the 1955–56 season. Their games regularly drew thousands of fans.

Leadership: The team was managed, coached, and anchored on the ice by Ed House, a rough-and-tumble player-coach who moved from Buffalo to jumpstart Rochester\'s amateur hockey scene. [1]

The Pro Push: House teamed up with fellow local hockey enthusiast Sam Toth to leverage the Arpeako Packers\' massive crowd turnouts as leverage. They submitted a formal application to the American Hockey League (AHL) in 1955. [1]

The Legacy: Their efforts succeeded. In June 1956, the AHL granted Rochester a conditional franchise. The Arpeako Packers dissolved to make way for the professional Rochester Americans, who began their historic inaugural AHL season that autumn. Both Ed House and Sam Toth were later inducted into the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame for their foundational work with the Packers.

THIS TEAM WAS THE ROCHESTER AMERICANS BEFORE THEY WERE THE ROCHESTER AMERICANS.

THIS JACKET IS BEYOND RARE, AND BEING AN ACTUAL PLAYERS JACKET, MOST LIKELY A ONE OF A KIND NOW.

WORTHY OF THE ROCHESTER AMERICANS HALL OF FAME.

MADE BY BUTWIN.

THE JACKET MEASURES 23 INCHES FROM PIT TO PIT, AND IS 27 INCHES LONG.

THE ONLY REAL CONDITION CONCERN IS A SMALL 1/4 INCH HOLE IN THE RIGHT SHOULDER THAT COULD EASILY BE REPAIRED IF THE NEW OWNER SHOULD SO DESIRE...SEE PICTURE.

PLEASE EXAMINE ALL OF THE PICTURES AND CONSIDER THEM AS PART OF THIS BEAUTIFUL JACKETS DESCRIPTION.

WOULD CONSIDER \"TRADES\" FOR VINTAGE BUFFALO BILLS / SABRES / BISON HOCKEY,OR BUFFALO BRAVES ITEMS.

THANKS FOR LOOKING AND GOOD LUCK.