Someone stole this superfan's 'priceless' photo of hockey legend Jean Bliveau and he wants it back - Action News
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Montreal

Someone stole this superfan's 'priceless' photo of hockey legend Jean Bliveau and he wants it back

The signed photo was stolen from Quebecs peewee hockey museum in the Videotron Centre last Sunday. The man who donated the one-of-a-kind piece says he hopes hell see it again.

'You can't replace it,' says general manager of Quebec City's peewee tournament

A man wearing a hockey shirt holds a photo printed in a magazine. He is standing in a hockey museum.
The stolen photo was part of the personal collection of longtime volunteer, Ghislain Brub, who's also called Mr. Peewee. (Bruno Gigure/Radio-Canada)

Ghislain Brub held back tears thinking about his "priceless" signed photo of Jean Bliveau that was stolen from Quebec's peewee hockey museum in the Videotron Centre Sunday evening.

When he first heard the news,Brubsays he "cried like a baby."

A volunteer with the tournament since the 1960s, Brub had collected the photo as part of his vast assortment of artifacts from the competition's 64 editions.

Brub, also known as Mr. Pee-wee, says he bought the photo at an auction about 10 years ago.

"Bliveau was my childhood idol," said Brub. A few years later, he says he managed to get it signed by Bliveau.

"I'm a Jean Bliveau super fan," said Brub. "I just hope I can find it again. It's priceless for me."

The stolen photo is one of only two, says Patrick Dom, general manager of the peewee tournament.

A black and white image of Jean Bliveau  at a hockey game
A copy of the photo that was stolen is found in a book about the history of the Quebec peewee tournament. (Bruno Giguere/Radio Canada)

Theblack-and-white photo was snapped at the inaugural Quebec peewee tournament during a charity match between the Montreal Canadiens and the Qubec Aces in 1959. In his tricolour uniform, Bliveau dropped the puck at the faceoff.

"I don't think there's a word to describe all this because the piece that has been stolen has been part of the history of the tournament," said Dom.

"You can't replace it."

Dom says the tournament contacted police and handed over security tapes. Dom says he doesn't understand why someone would do this.

"I don't know what you can do with this. I mean unless you are a real fan of Jean Bliveau," said Dom. "[It's] hard to put a value on."

A museum with photos and signed memorabilia
The black-and-white photo, seen here hanging in the top centre spot, was stolen on Sunday. (Submitted by the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament)

He says the peewee museum just wants the piece back. The tournament is asking for thepublic's help.

"If the person is listening to me right now, just put it in bubble [wrap] and send it back to the chairman, that's all we want," said Dom.

"We're crossing our fingers. Hopefully we're going to hear some good news within the next few days."

With files from Radio-Canada