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Autographed Gretzky jersey grabbed from Kelowna sports shop

Indianapolis Racers jersey worth about $10K
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The Wayne Gretzky-autographed Indianapolis Racers jersey that was stolen from Player’s Choice Sports in Kelowna. (RCMP/Submitted)

A valuable piece of the Great One’s hockey history has been stolen from a Kelowna retailer.

An autographed Wayne Gretzky jersey, from the brief stint he had with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association, was snatched from Player’s Choice Sports on Cawston Avenue around 2a.m. on Feb. 7, when a lone suspect used a hammer to break the front window.

The jersey is valued at about $10,000. Gretzky played eight games for the Racers in the 1978-79 season, before being shipped to the Edmonton Oilers, who joined the NHL the following year after the dissolving of the WHA.

Also among the stolen items was about $20,000 worth of sports memorabilia cards.

RCMP are looking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect.

The suspect in a break-and-enter at Player’s Choice Sports in Kelowna. (RCMP/Submitted)
The suspect in a break-and-enter at Player’s Choice Sports in Kelowna. (RCMP/Submitted)

“A theft like this causes immense financial harm to a small local business in our community and the RCMP is going to use every investigational tool possible to find and arrest those responsible,” said Cst. Mike Della-Paolera, media relations officer with the Kelowna RCMP.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Kelowna RCMP Detachment at (250) 762-3300 and reference file number 2023-6904.

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@JakeC_16
Jake.courtepatte@kelownacapnews.com

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Jake Courtepatte

About the Author: Jake Courtepatte

Editor of Kelowna Capital News & West K News since February 2022. I have spent the majority of my career working in the Toronto area as both a sports reporter and a general reporter.
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