Loading ...

Paul Kariya accepting his Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF) ring from HHOF Chairman, and hockey legend, Lanny McDonald on Nov. 12, 2017. Photo credit: Dr. Jonathan Eto.

TORONTO — Japanese Canadian hockey legend Paul Kariya’s championship rings were stolen from the Hockey Hall of Fame on March 6, reported Toronto Police.

The two rings, a 1993 junior world championship ring and 1994 world championship ring were donated by Kariya to the HHOF.

Toronto Police reported the rings were stolen on Feb. 11 at approximately 12:30 pm.

The police looking for a man between 25 to 35 years-old, between 5’10” to 6′, with dark brown hair and clean shaven. He was seen on security footage wearing a blue winter jacket, grey hoodie, grey jogging pants, sunglasses and a grey winter toque.

The man is seen on security footage entering the building through the HHOF’s store, Spirit of Hockey, on Yonge Street and Front Street West in Toronto. Police investigators report he then went into a storage closet. The storage closet leads to a door to the display case. The display case contained different memorabilia donated to the HHOF, including the two championship rings.

The hall was opened at the time of the robbery and Toronto Police constable Caroline de Kloet told CBC that it is possible someone visiting could have seen the theft.   The alleged suspect then left the HHOF in a rented U-Haul panel van.

The rings could sell for a couple thousand dollars each, or even more to right buyer or die-hard fan.

Kariya is one of the most well-known Japanese Canadian hockey players. During his career he won two junior world championship rings and three world championship rings like the two stolen from the hall of fame.

Kariya also won Olympic Gold with team Canada at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002.

He was just inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2017.

Kariya’s fellow inductee and current HHOF chairman Lanny McDonald called Kariya to tell him about the theft. Kariya told McDonald he “understood these things happen” HHOF spokesperson Kelly Masse told CBC.

***