Les Binkley is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Binkley played goaltender in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins and in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Ottawa Nationals and Toronto Toros. He later served as a scout for both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Winnipeg Jets. He won two Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992 as a scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He spent his early career in the minor leagues and did not play in the NHL until his thirties. He won the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as the American Hockey League’s top rookie in 1962, and was awarded the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award four years later for allowing the fewest goals in the league. Binkley was the starting goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the team’s inaugural season in the NHL. During the 1970 Stanley Cup playoffs, Binkley won six games–the first postseason victories for the Penguin franchise. After five seasons with the Penguins, he played in the WHA with the Ottawa Nationals and Toronto Toros. Binkley played in 196 NHL regular season games and retired with a career GAA of 3.12.
Presented is Les Binkley’s Cooper goaltender padding (real under armor) from his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The old yellowed padding is heavily battle scarred with sweat and blood staining throughout. It’s everything you would expect old goaltender’s equipment to be like – used to the very end of necessity, rusted and saturated with just about everything imaginable in order to maintain character and ice credit. Those baseball catchers have no idea what real padding is for. Of note, Binkley’s ice credit in preventing goals was indeed honorable. Somehow, the puck protection armor was preserved away from a garbage can and that in and of itself is something hockey collectors can appreciate. Binkley signed the front portion in black felt tip (“9”) as an endorsement to his equipment.
Authentication: 100% Authentic Team & Photo of Signing
Les Binkley Game-Worn Hockey Pads