Hockey Night in Canada is missing the original full-game tape of Darryl Sittler’s most memorable night in hockey.

That’s because Sittler has it — and the former Toronto Maple Leafs legend said he’s not releasing it.

Last week marked the 37th anniversary of his spectacular 10-point game, when Sittler scored six goals and added four assists in an 11-4 victory over the Boston Bruins on Feb. 7, 1976 at Maple Leaf Gardens. It’s still the record for most points earned by one player in a game.

Not even Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux could break that mark at the height of their powers.

Although there are highlights of Sittler’s performance available for viewing, the original tape was given to Sittler by someone at Hockey Night in Canada years ago, Sittler said.

Sittler told the Toronto Star he won’t release the full game to anyone and seemed reluctant even to discuss it.

“I got this as a gift and it’s mine to do what I want with it,” Sittler told the Star.

Every time Sittler is introduced at a public event, people always ask him about this historic game, which was broadcast on a Saturday night from coast to coast.

“Everybody who watched or follows hockey remembers it, so anytime I’m introduced at a function, they all talk about that night,” Sittler admitted.

“I’m reminded of it all the time. I’m honoured and proud to hold the record.”

Sittler joked on the sports talk radio show Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown last week that he would consider providing a copy — for a price.

“You want to negotiate on the air, do you?” Sittler told co-host John Shannon, who is a former HNIC producer.

Shannon told him that viewing the highlights wasn’t good enough. People should be able to see the whole game.

Shannon persisted, telling Sittler that when he worked at Leafs TV, that was the only game from the archives that they couldn’t get their hands on.

When contacted by the Star, the former Leaf legend admitted that the story was not an urban myth. However, he urged the Star not to make a big deal of this. The highlights are widely available if people want to see his history-making performance, he said.

Still, nobody can see the full game, except Sittler and whoever he allows to see it.

“I have the tape,” he said, adding that he can’t remember when he last saw the full game. “It was a long time ago.”

Sittler added that he didn’t even remember where the tape is.

“It could be here or at my cottage in a box,” he said.

Sittler now works in community relations for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Leafs.

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He added that Hockey Night in Canada has not asked him for this original copy.

Asked if he would provide a copy for Hockey Night in Canada for their archives, he said: “I don’t want to go there.”

The CBC, when contacted by the Star, confirmed it does not have a copy of the full game. The NHL owns the rights to all league games, including this one, according to the CBC.

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