[irbefan4life]

Today's additions are of a goaltender with an interesting story.

Born in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada on July 27, 1978, Tyrone Garner was a standout goaltender for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. He was drafted 83rd overall by the New York Islanders in 1996. He was acquired by the Calgary Flames in 1997 and made his NHL debut in interesting circumstances. While still playing for Oshawa in 1998-99, the Calgary Flames called him up as an emergency back-up goaltender. On January 2, 1999 against the Buffalo Sabres, he replaced Andrei Trefilov between the pipes and stopped 11 of 13 shots in the team's 7-1 defeat. He then played the next game on January 4th stopping 31 of 36 shots in a 5-1 defeat against Boston. Then the next day he got into another game against Pittsburgh, stopping 20 of 25 shots in a 5-1 loss. He was sent back to juniors thereafter. He spent the 1999-00 season as back-up with the Saint John Flames of the AHL, as well as a short stint with the Dayton Bombers of the ECHL. Toiling in the ECHL until 2001-02, he showed some promise as he posted a 12-2 record and led the Greenville Grrrowl to the ECHL Championship. The Florida Panthers took notice and thus signed Garner for the 2002-03 season. He never made the team out of training camp, instead he was once again back down in the ECHL, though he did get into one final AHL game. The next two years, he played with Stuttgart in Germany before moving to Norway in 2005-06. There, he tore his groin off of his bone and that injury effectively ended his career in goaltending. Instead of calling it quits like most people would after such an injury, Garner instead chose to play as a forward. Playing in the SPHL from 2006-2008, he appeared in 88 games and recorded 49 points. He then played one final year with the OHA Sr. League in 2008-09, where he was almost a point per game player. Garner currently teaches at a goalie academy in Ontario.

In his NHL career, Garner appeared in three games, recording an 0-2-0 record with a 5.18GAA, and a 0.838% save average. He did not make a playoff appearance.

What you are looking at right now is a pair of 2002-03 Florida Panthers Training Camp jerseys used by Tyrone Garner. Wear is practically inexistent though some evidence of washing may exist. It is a stunning set of pieces representing the last major league hurrah of Garner's career.

Acquired from: Meigray Group, no LOAs

Dates of Game Use: 2002-03 Panthers training camp

Photomatched: No

[sspboss302]

Again, nice additions to your museum.

SSP