90-year-old piece of hockey history auctioned off for Humboldt

A Vancouver Island hockey fan and memorabilia collector raised $5,800 for Humboldt, Sask., after he auctioned a 1928 arena seat from the old Boston Garden.

Sincethe tragic bus crash that has so far claimed 16 lives, people around the world have donated over $11 million to a fundraising effort to support the victims.

Vancouver Island manRod Hurst wanted to contribute as well.

"I just wanted to do my part. To do something as a Canadian and a hockey fan. I thought it would be one of those things that would catch everybody's attention," Hurst told All Points West host Jason D'Souza.

Special possession

Hurst, a moving truck driver, described the chair as wooden, small, and autographed by 42 formerNHLersincluding RayBourqueand PhilEsposito.

"It's pretty old. I don't think it would hold me," he said.

A long-time sports memorabilia collector, Hurstbought the chair off a Calgary dealer but it needed some work. He estimates the purchase and repairs cost him $2,600.

Hurst says the seat is a prized possession for him but the crash in Saskatchewan has moved him so greatly he's willing to part with it.

"I'm a father and it touched my heart," he said, becoming audibly emotional. "We're all Canadians. We're all hockey fans. We're all parents it brought the whole country together."

To be delivered

The seat was soldto a person who lives just outside Humboldt.

Hurst says he plans to drive out to the buyer's house personally to deliver the chair, shake his hand, visit the Humboldt arena and pay his respects with his wife.

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With files from CBC Radio One's All Points West