Derek Wilkinson
1998-99 Game Worn Tampa Bay Lightning Road Jersey
*Final NHL game / possibly recycled from 1997-98
What you are looking at right now is a 1998-99 Tampa Bay Lightning road jersey worn by Derek Wilkinson in his final NHL game. The wear is excellent, comprised of a very large material-backed team repair on the front, heavy sleeve pilling, dark marks (difficult to see on the black of the jersey), and some staining on the rear of the neck area. The yellow staining on the front repair is due to the material backed repairs not just being stitched, but also glued and the adhesive residue was left behind. There does also appear to be a residue and a pair of missing stitches where the all-star patch is currently located making it a possibility (not confirmed/inconclusive) that it may have been recycled from 1997-98 and may have once had the John Cullen patch there.
Born on July 29, 1974 in LaSalle, Ontario, Derek Wilkinson was playing in the OHL when he was drafted 170th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992. Wilkinson turned pro in 1994-95 with the Atlanta Knights in the IHL, immediately posting an excellent debut season as he recorded 22 wins in 46 games and leading the franchise into the playoffs. Early in 1995-96, he was recalled by the Tampa Bay Lightning and then the moment every goalie waits for happened. Derek Wilkinson got the start in goal on November 8, 1995 vs the New York Rangers. He stopped 22 of 27 shots that he faced in a 5-4 defeat. He appeared in 4 NHL games that season, though ultimately spent the majority of the year in the IHL. He appeared in 5 more NHL games the following season, though in the IHL, he helped lead Cleveland into the third round of the playoffs where they fell in five games to the ultimate Turner Cup champions.
He got into a career-high 8 games with Tampa in 1997-98, then played a further 5 with them in 1998-99. After one more season in the minor-pros, Wilkinson joined the Belfast Giants in Britain for 2000-01 and played his final season of pro hockey. He transitioned to coaching thereafter, beginning as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Checkers in 2002-03, earning head coach duties with them in 2003-04, then advancing to Senior VP of Hockey Operations for them in 2010-11, a position that he still holds as of 2023-24.
In his NHL career, Derek Wilkinson appeared in 22 NHL games, going 3-12-3 with a 3.67GAA, and a 0.874% save average. He appeared in no NHL playoff games.
Acquired from: Classic Auctions
Dates of Game Use:
April 17, 1999 vs Florida (20-23, 6-2L)
Backed up only an additional two times and possibly saw pre-season action as well.
*If in fact the jersey was recycled and re-used from 1997-98, then it may have seen up to an additional game of action plus several more back-up only appearances.
Photomatched: Possibly
Born on July 29, 1974 in LaSalle, Ontario, Derek Wilkinson was playing in the OHL when he was drafted 170th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992. Wilkinson turned pro in 1994-95 with the Atlanta Knights in the IHL, immediately posting an excellent debut season as he recorded 22 wins in 46 games and leading the franchise into the playoffs. Early in 1995-96, he was recalled by the Tampa Bay Lightning and then the moment every goalie waits for happened. Derek Wilkinson got the start in goal on November 8, 1995 vs the New York Rangers. He stopped 22 of 27 shots that he faced in a 5-4 defeat. He appeared in 4 NHL games that season, though ultimately spent the majority of the year in the IHL. He appeared in 5 more NHL games the following season, though in the IHL, he helped lead Cleveland into the third round of the playoffs where they fell in five games to the ultimate Turner Cup champions.
He got into a career-high 8 games with Tampa in 1997-98, then played a further 5 with them in 1998-99. After one more season in the minor-pros, Wilkinson joined the Belfast Giants in Britain for 2000-01 and played his final season of pro hockey. He transitioned to coaching thereafter, beginning as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Checkers in 2002-03, earning head coach duties with them in 2003-04, then advancing to Senior VP of Hockey Operations for them in 2010-11, a position that he still holds as of 2023-24.
In his NHL career, Derek Wilkinson appeared in 22 NHL games, going 3-12-3 with a 3.67GAA, and a 0.874% save average. He appeared in no NHL playoff games.
Acquired from: Classic Auctions
Dates of Game Use:
April 17, 1999 vs Florida (20-23, 6-2L)
Backed up only an additional two times and possibly saw pre-season action as well.
*If in fact the jersey was recycled and re-used from 1997-98, then it may have seen up to an additional game of action plus several more back-up only appearances.
Photomatched: Possibly
