A Toronto-area man now owns a piece of Canada's most cherished hockey memory -- a Paul Henderson hockey jersey which sold Wednesday for more than US $1 million.

Henderson wore the jersey when he scored the winning goal for Team Canada in the legendary 1972 Summit Series against the Soviets.

Mitchel Goldhar's winning bid of US$1,067,538 has made history as it has rendered Henderson's jersey the most expensive hockey sweater ever sold at an auction.

Bobby Orr's rookie jersey sold for $191, 200 at an auction back in April. Wayne Gretzky's jerseys have sold for $250,000.

The actual price of Henderson's jersey totaled $1.275 million after auction fees. The bidding opened at $10,000.

Goldhar, a major commercial developer, says he will bring the jersey back home for all Canadians to enjoy.

"I am pleased and proud to bring this important piece of Canadian history home," Goldhar said in a statement.

"As a lifelong hockey fan I know what Paul Henderson's winning goal against the Russians in 1972 means to all Canadians."

Goldhar said the he will arrange for the jersey to be shown in local museums, including the Hockey Hall of Fame, to ensure as many people as possible have access to it.

Henderson has said he wants to see the jersey hand in Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, where the former Toronto Maple Leafs player was inducted in 1995.

Up until now, the jersey was in the hands of an anonymous American collector who is a cancer survivor. He has said that he plans on donating some of the proceeds to charity.

Henderson was also diagnosed with cancer last fall.

After the summit, Henderson gave the jersey to Joe Sgro, Team Canada's trainer. Sgro later sold the souvenir.

Henderson told CTV's News Channel Wednesday that he's glad he gave the jersey to Sgro.

"I'm not one to keep a lot of stuff anyways," he said. "I couldn't think of anyone better. He took care of me above and beyond."

Henderson said he kept the jersey on for about 45 minutes after the big win, sitting down with his teammates after the game to savour the championship moment.

Marc Juteau, president of Montreal area-based Classic Auctions, told The Canadian Press that Goldhar's offer was the 42nd bid entered for the 38-year-old red and white jersey.

"The attention that was given to the jersey has exceeded by far what we thought it would do," said Juteau.

Canadian-based companies Molson, the Forzani Group, Canadian Tire and B.C. billionaire Jim Pattison all reportedly put in a bid for the jersey.

"But for one given piece, (this is) the most attention we've ever gotten," said Juteau.