'Heirloom' Habs hockey sweater made in 1965 was stolen — the family's pleading for its return

Pete Lee's lovingly worn knitted sweater-jacket with the Montreal Canadiens logo on the back and the Rocket's No. 9 on the sleeves wasn't expensive.

In fact, it was patched at the elbows, the buttons had been replaced and it had seen better days. But for Lee, the jacket's value is immeasurable — and he's desperate to get it back. 

Lee, 78, said the jacket was stolen Thursday from the locker-room at Goodlife Fitness where he works out in London, Ont. He said he reported it being taken to the gym but a search was done and it couldn't be found.

He said it never crossed his mind that someone would take it, hanging next to expensive parkas and leather jackets. It was knitted in 1965 by his mother's friend and given as a gift to his now-late brother. 

"It was special to my brother because it was a birthday present, and after he died, it was special to me," Lee said. "I miss it greatly. Now when I open the closet and see that empty hanger, it doesn't feel very good." 

There was no pattern of the Habs logo at the sewing store when the sweater-jacket was made, so Lee designed it himself. Maurice Richard, who died in 2000 at age 78, was the brothers' hockey idol, so there was no question it was his number on the sleeves.

The sweater-jacket is white, the C in the Habs logo is red and the H is blue. Lee said it's definitely one-of-a-kind and is a conversation-starter wherever he goes. 

"It really does stand out in a crowd. I rarely wore it out without at least one person commenting on it, complete strangers stopping to talk about Montreal, the older folks talking about the Rocket," Lee said. 

It's one of the reasons the family is hopeful it will turn up, or someone will see it. They're checking social media sales pages and have started calling around to second-hand clothing stores.

"There's a huge market for unique vintage clothing, but we had never thought about that before," Sharla Lee Thompson said of her dad's coat.

"It was a family heirloom and I have so many memories of it. But I see now that it could be worth some money." 

The best-case scenario, Lee said, is if it's returned to the locker-room at the gym where it was taken. He'll ask no questions and is willing to provide a reward, but hopes the person who took it sees that it has more value to his family than the cash it could bring in.

"Maybe someone's conscience will keep them awake at night. I just want my sweater back."