The Starr Shield was unveiled in the birthplace of hockey on Saturday after it was missing for more than 75 years.
Historians thought the plaque was lost in a fire in the 1940s, but it was located for sale on the other side of the country over the summer.
“I almost fell off my chair,” said historian David Carter. “It was my last day of vacation and I thought, I’m just going to do a search for Starr manufacturing tonight.”
Carter works for Nova Scotia Museum by day. He says tracing local hockey history is one of his passions.
“I instantly sent an email to the eBayer, asking a few questions to kind of make sure and to kind of find out, where did this come from?” said Carter.
But that part remains a mystery.
The last team to win the trophy was Moncton. It’s believed the shield caught fire and that the wooden plaque was gone.
But they aren’t sure who took it with them across the country.
“Obviously it must have been someone who did cherish it,” said Carter. “Someone rescued that from the fire.”
Mayors representing some of the towns and cities who won the trophy were on hand for Saturday’s unveil, including Sydney, Glace Bay, Bathurst, Kentville and Truro.
“Everyone knows Truro has been a hotbed of hockey for years and years and years, and the Truro Bearcats name is synonymous with the town,” said Truro mayor Bill Mills.
Despite the hockey rivalries, everyone on hand was glad to the plaque home in the Maritimes
“Hockey has always been a big deal in the Maritimes. Way before my time, 3500 people at the stadium for a game was not uncommon. It was very, very passionate back then as it is today,” said Mills.
As for Carter, he says his detective work isn’t done yet.
“There was at least one other trophy out there that may be in P.E.I. that was won by the Abbeys three times and they kept it,” he said.
The Windsor Hockey Heritage Society is hoping someone will get in touch with them to help fill in the gaps.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Sarah Ritchie.
