NHL star Toews donates boat to Variety auction

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This article was published 06/04/2016 (3818 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

You might not be able to skate in NHL star Jonathan Toews’ skates or shoot with his stick, but you can ride in his boat.

That is, if you are the highest bidder at a fundraising auction later this month.

Toews, whose Chicago Blackhawks team will soon seeking another Stanley Cup championship, and his family have donated his 13-year-old 1935 Cossey replica runabout to Variety the Children’s Charity. A trailer and a custom boat cover come with the boat.

Andrée Gilbert, Toews’ mother, said when her son bought his Lake of the Woods-area cottage about five years ago, the boat came with the deal.

“The owner said he would only sell the cottage if the boat was sold with it,” Gilbert said on Wednesday. “He paid $120,000 for it (the boat),” she added.

“The original boat is still on the property of the cottage Jonathan bought — it has flowers coming up in it. But the cottage owner thought it was a piece of the area history so he had an exact one built.”

The boat was hand built by Canadian Heritage Boats in 2002 based on the design used by the now defunct Kenora-based Cossey company in the early 1930s. It is constructed with cedar and mahogany and has custom red leather seats and cushions.

Gilbert said her son’s hockey career keeps him away from the cottage for the most part, even in summer, so they figured rather than have the boat in storage, they would donate it to a charity. They chose Variety.

“We thought it was a good fit,” she said.

“Anything that will help children with special needs is a really good fit for Jonathan.”

Jerry Maslowsky, Variety’s CEO, said they’re thrilled Toews and his family thought of his charitable organization when they decided to donate the watercraft. He said all of the money raised will go to helping children with special needs.

“(Toews’ mother) said Jonathan has this boat he’s not really using and it went from there,” Maslowsky said.

“They’ve kept it in wonderful condition. We’re very honoured to have this opportunity. We’re very grateful.”

Maslowsky said the auction house has already been getting pre-biddings from outside Canada.

“I don’t know who will get the boat, but I do know there are boat collectors and there are others who know it is Jonathan Toews’,” he said.

“If the successful bidder wants it, Toews will sign the boat, but he won’t do it until he is asked because some people might not want a signature on the boat.”

The boat will be auctioned at Adesa Winnipeg Public Auction, on Highway 7 about a kilometre north of the Perimeter Highway, on April 26 at 6:15 p.m.

Pre-bids are being accepted at 204-631-3850 or by email to kerry.beaton@adesa.com.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca