170-year-old hockey stick valued at $3.5M up for auction

What is believed to be possibly the oldest known hockey stick in existence is up for grabs through Goldin Auctions.

The auction house's description says the stick dates back to the time period between the 1850s and 1870s, prior to the first recorded indoor hockey game in Montreal on March 3, 1875. It has been appraised at a value of $3.5 million.

The item has been dubbed the "Morse Stick" after its owners, Gary and Germaine Morse. It was gifted to the couple by Germaine's brother, Anthony Bean, who found it after purchasing their grandmother's house in Northfield, Vermont, in 1980.

International Hockey Hall of Fame board of directors member J.W. "Bill" Fitsell examined the stick twice and wrote in a letter to Gary Morse that he found "it to be a unique and most interesting artifact that fills the void in 19th century hockey history between shinny, ice polo, and ice hockey." The Hockey Hall of Fame has also expressed a desire to have the stick displayed there.

The auction has an opening bid of $100,000 and runs until May 16.