Teams investigating the condition of the world’s largest hockey stick are on the lookout for a surprise: When it was made nearly 40 years ago, a time capsule was secretly hidden somewhere inside.

Plans are on schedule to remove the 62.5-metre-long pole in pieces from the side of the Cowichan Community Centre in Duncan at the end of the month, said new owner Bart Robertson of Shawnigan Lake.

He speculates that the time capsule might be hidden at the top of the stick.

The widow of one of the stick’s builders in Penticton contacted Robertson to tell him about the time capsule. She had no further information about its location.

“We want to find it,” Robertson said.

“Because the handle is hollow, we can do gentler exploration work on the ground and with cameras.” Aside from a section connected to the Canada logo, most of the handle is hollow, he said.

The pole was built for the Canadian pavilion at Expo 86. After the event, it was brought to Duncan where it was mounted at the community center.

But the years took their toll. Parts rotted. Birds built nests in them. The cost of replacing the hive was estimated at $1.5 to $2 million.

After a public hearing, the Cowichan Valley Regional District put the pole out to tender. Robertson was successful. He will pay nothing for the pole, but will be responsible for its transportation.

The workers are “preparing everything, doing some drilling and checking how stable the structure is and where the crane needs to be attached,” Robertson said.

Cranes and low-loaders are used to dismantle the block in five parts and transport it away for Robertson’s company Maxwell’s Auto Parts.

He plans to have 6,000 key and backpack tags made from Douglas fir pieces in an initial run.

The goal is to sell tags wholesale for $15 each to local organizations such as sports teams and church groups so they can resell them for $20.

Each pendant will be numbered and come with a certificate of authenticity. Robertson expects them to be ready in September.

Desktop displays cost $100.

The memorabilia is sold through another of his companies, Genuine Collectibles.

Robertson is also donating $20,000 to a raffle for teams and charities.

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