Paul Bissonnette was never the most productive player, even in junior hockey, but nevertheless he was chosen to represent the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the 2003 Canada/Russia Challenge Series.
The series was dreamed up as a tune-up for the World Junior Championships. The Canadian teams dominated, with only the QMJHL losing a game to what was considered a very weak Russian team.
The OHL led off the series with the first two games and won them handily, 7-1 and 4-0. Biz played in both games as a seventh defenseman. Both games can be found on YouTube.
Here is game one:
And here is game two:
Bissonnette’s White Set game worn jersey was worn in both contests and has some wear on it.
The right sleeve has some stains near the wrist (possibly blood?) and a very dark stick/puck mark that is also a board burn next to the right sleeve number. Found on the left sleeve are a few board burns, a faint stick/puck mark or two, and more of the unidentified stains that look an awful lot like blood.
The 2003 Canada/Russia Challenge patch is sewn to the right breast. CCM’s logo is on the left breast and it also has a stick mark on the collarbone just above it. There is some pilling on the OHL crest.
Paul Bissonnette is introduced to the crowd while wearing this sweater prior to Game One of the 2003 Canada/Russia Challenge Series on November 17th, 2003.
Not much wear is to be found on the back of the sweater.
There is a bit of pilling in the nameplate, a small amount of wash wear, and some loose threading in the nameplate and sleeve numbers.
