BREAKING NEWS: A man who had ceased collecting memorabilia after his Gretzky collection was stolen now finds renewed inspiration through Connor Bedard.

Recently recovered items from unrelated police investigations give Aron Gratias hope about the rest of his collection.

A man whose extensive Wayne Gretzky memorabilia collection was stolen had lost hope in his hobby until rookie NHL star Connor Bedard rekindled his passion.

Aron Gratias of Emma Lake, Sask., recounted how his collection, which included 19 autographed Gretzky jerseys spanning the hockey legend’s career, along with signed pictures, hockey sticks, pucks, and thousands of hockey cards, was stolen from a locked storage container near Shellbrook, Sask. Despite the devastating loss, Gratias received a glimmer of hope when a portion of his collection was recovered by the RCMP almost a year later. However, most of the valuable items remained missing until police found one of his autographed Gretzky hockey sticks in an abandoned vehicle north of Shellbrook and recovered three signed Gretzky jerseys during an unrelated investigation in Prince Albert.

While about 75% of his collection is still missing, these recent discoveries have given Gratias renewed optimism. He believes that someone close to him may have been involved in the theft, but this remains unconfirmed.

Despite the setback, Gratias has been touched by the support he’s received from collectors and strangers alike, who continue to check in on him and offer assistance in locating his stolen items. Additionally, the emergence of young hockey sensation Connor Bedard has reignited Gratias’s passion for collecting memorabilia. Bedard’s rising star in the NHL and the excitement surrounding his memorabilia have inspired Gratias to return to the world of collecting, despite the challenges he’s faced.

Gratias’s journey reflects the resilience of collectors in the face of adversity and the enduring power of sports memorabilia to evoke passion and connection within communities.