The Beihn family never realized they would be in possession of some Northern Ontario Hockey history.
About a year ago, the Commanda family found out about an unusual trophy a neighbour found at a yard sale in the Sundridge-South River area.
It was dented, tarnished and beat up, but in 2013 Rick Beihn sacrificed an autographed Boston Bruins jersey in exchange for the old damaged trophy which became part of his son Justin’s Ultimate Hockey Collection.
The trophy is the Lorne Miller Trophy, which the NOHA says was given out to the winner of the Juvenile AAA League in the NOHA. Miller, an NOHA past president, donated the trophy in his name back in the early 1940's.
“It was first awarded in 1941 to Iroquois Falls and the last winners were Haileybury in 1997, and the trophy went missing after that,” said NOHA Executive Director Jason Marchand adding players like the Mahovolich brothers hoisted the ageless trophy at one time.
After finding out the some history about the trophy by talking to family friend and former Chicago Blackhawks legend Chico Maki, as well as searching for information online, the family decided the trophy should return to its home.
“The family decision was to return the trophy where it began in hopes of it’s restoration,” said Rick Beihn.
While it was tough to give up the unique find, the family will keep in touch with the NOHA office in hopes of finding out more information about this historical Northern Ontario Trophy.
"It was probably like one in a million it was beat up and abused and whoever had it never cared about it, Rick added.
"It was like winning the lottery finding it and we are glad its back where it belongs."
