Sweater enumeration stories

[DannyG]

Just to share, we find that everybody in hockey has their uniform number, and that there is a specific reason/story as to why...usually these make fascinating reading...

Okay, everybody, with the pro and college leagues out of season, the nationals (all of 'em) still 1-2 months away, and comparatively little posting going on, let's tell some stories...

Tell us about why you have your sweater number...

My girls Polar Bears have dozens of these, but the best one is...Kelsi, (our 8's goalie) all 7 years of her, has her birthday on, get this: 9-6-96, so her number is "96." She came up with that when she was 5 years old.

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

[DannyG]

I wear number 5 in the house sweaters, in honor of my daughter. Caitlin wears number 55 exclusively, she started playing when she was five, and then got tired of fighting the boys for the number 5 house sweaters. If I make the over-50 USA national team (you listening, Brennan?) I will ask for 55 in her honor.

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

[RichardGraham]

Hi Danny,

Being the intellectual I am /wtimages/icons/shocked.gif, I do not believe in superstitions or the power of certain numbers. Being the humanitarian I am /wtimages/icons/smile.gif, I try to please as many people as possible. So....

My first number (in soccer) was 13.

A few years back, when I started playing in inline hockey leagues instead of at the beach, I started using the number of the year. So, my first number was 98. Instead of being looked on as a complete moron and taking 99 in 1999, I took 97. I now have jerseys with 96 and 95.

I took some time off playing inline and played ice. I took 20 in honor of Luc Robitaille, my favorite NHL player since Davey Keon. Currently, I'm number 7 on my ice hockey team. I just like the number.

My goal is to eventually have used every number from 1-99. I've got a few years left /wtimages/icons/wink.gif

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[missionhockey21]

On my sweater, 66. Why? Because of the great Super Mario, I have worn it since I was 3 ^_^

[John_S_Osborne]

I wear the rather unique jersey number of #95, as 1995 was the last year I played organized tournament street hockey. It's sorta a homage to those finer days of youth. It was also adapted to have some sort of relation with I-95, as I'm about as wide as a four lane highway. ;)

- john

[NLane]

My son seems to change his number every other year. I guess it's so no one would recognize him. We stopped the names on the backs when they were kids for safety reasons. Like (many years ago) the "lime green" skates or the "pink" tape wouldn't have pegged him anyway. :)

[WCRHL]

My first year of college hockey I took number 95, for the year I graduated high school (1995). Then sometime that year, we got jerseys printed and the printer put 96 instead of 95. So I "evolved" into 96 and that is what I wear today.

My brother wore 17 in honor of his then-favorite (remember this was the 90s) Pat Falloon of the San Jose Sharks. Then one summer in house league, an older guy already chose 17. So he became 71, and that has stuck.

-----------------------------
Brennan Edwards
League Director
Western Collegiate Roller Hockey League

[TXGoalieMom]

My daughter chose the # 35 when she started playing goal last year because Marty Turco is her inspiration. She aspires to handle the puck as well and as fearlessly as him. If only she had biceps his size!

FYI Danny, I have her playing with a heavy goal stick right now and I plan on replacing it with a very light stick at Nationals. Working on those biceps!!

[columbus_RHstar]

#20, Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic were my favorite players at that time (I still like them), and I couldn't decide on 19 or 21 so I took 20.

When Mario retired I wanted to get 66 in honor of him, and planned on retiring #20, but what was to be my last game happened to be one of my better games that I had played, at that point, so I stuck with it, now it seems when I wear another number I just don't feel right.

[seyone]

i wore the number 9 from the time I was about 6 yrs old playing soccer because it was the # they gave me. It was the number i wore for about 18 years. About 2 years ago I had to switch beacuase somebody on my team already had my #. So now I am #90 and it just feels right.

[missionhockey21]

I also wear 21 if I cant get 66, in honor of Forsberg.

[Superstar9]

I've worn # 9 as long as Ive been playing sports, my 1st coach gave it to me because he said he saw rocket richard tendancies in me. I've worn it every game since w/ the exception of 2 games.. one game in 2002 I wore a jersey #15 for a mens league team I was substituting for and we had to have all matching jerseys, 2 periods later... broken wrist from a slash which sadly ended my mlrh season for the fairfax falcons (dc area) when I happened to be tied for 1st in the league in goals. The 2nd time I didnt wear # 9 was for the AZ Stallions in the MLRH early this past season, I was expected to have a great season and lead the team... we started the season on a road trip in souther california.. they gave me # 57 (someone else had #9 who wasn't the "new guy" like myself).. well anyway.. my first shift of my 2nd game w/ the team in anaheim..got hit from behing and boarded head-first, splatted like ketchup (#57) got a seperated shoulder, season over.. so, the jersey # is crucial. its been the only dark side to my otherwise promising MLRH career. If I wear # 9 Im a top contender to lead the league.. if I can stay healthy, I always take off in the stats early but have gotten hurt the last 2 years just because of bad luck in the jersey # department.

[SpiderRat]

Hey John, who did you play DekHockey with and did you ever make the trips to Leominster, Ma. for the Nationals.

[SpiderRat]

In honor of the great Tony Esposito, I picked number 35. I've had it ever since I was a little one playing sock hockey with my brothers in the basement of my parents house. Oops, did I just give my age away? :0

[DannyG]

yeah, you did...for the uninitiated, Tony Esposito, Phil's younger brother, was the NHL goalie largley credited with inventing the butterfly method of goalkeeping. Tony, unlike Phil, went to college (a promise to his mother), gaining NCAA titles in the early sixties with Michigan Tech, before joining the Chicago Blackhawks for a sensational rookie season and a great career.

In the late sixties, Tony kept that promise to his mother, going back to Tech to finish his degreee over a couple of summers. I got to play softball against Tony in the the local men's league for a couple of go-arounds (I attended high school in Houghton, Michigan). I played with the team sponsored by the office supply store, and Tony played center field (good hitter) for the team sponsored by the local beer distributor.

You're just not quite old enough to play over-50 with us yet, but keep it up, and you'll get there some day...

<font color=purple>DannyG</font color=purple>

[SpiderRat]

I'm impressed. I guess you know Tony. Thanks for the bio.

[Wolfpac9]

Back in High School when I was in shape playing soccer, we had to choose a # for the Varsity team and the only decent one left was #18. I had the number all 4 years for 2 sports (soccer and baseball)and then carried it over to my college baseball team. When I started playing hockey #18 was taken so I decided to go with 1+8, 9 (just in case you hockey players cant add), Mike Modano. I have had the # for every team I have played for since then, 9 years.

[missionhockey21]

These are pretty cool stories, great topic.

[John_S_Osborne]

I played for the Bellmawr Bears from New Jersey, who made trips to Leominster yearly for a while there, but I was never part of those teams. I played for a team called the Runnemede Raiders in a tourney up on Long Island (at Meyer Dek, if that rings a bell for anyone), which was called the "national tournament".

Runnemede is a town that is adjacent to Bellmawr, and that year due to alot of talent in the area, fielded another team to compete, with a giant rivalry against the kids from Bellmawr since most of the guys on my team felt slighted for not making Bellmawr's squad. At Long Island, we placed third behind Bellmawr and Leominster. We played and beat a team from Fitchburg, Mass. that year. We also placed well in the Bellmawr and Egg Harbor tourneys.

I guess you have a history in dek hockey as well?

- john

[gentdj]

In college and whenever I get a chance, I wore/wear 26 because Joey Kocur is one of my all-time favorite players. Plus 2+6=8 - Cam Neely ...
But the rink I play at gives out new jerseys each season and doesn't let you pick so I have dozens of different jerseys with dozens of different numbers.
I would wear 7 for Rod Langway since I play D, but I'm definitely not lucky enough to wear it.

#26

[rlrhky13]

I have always worn number 13.. Not really sure why to be honest but now I have to have something with the number 13 on when I play if I can't get the jersey # 13. I have a necklace with the # 13 on it and my t-shirt is #13 that I wear under my jersey.. If it is possible and I can't get 13 I always try for 85 which = 13 when you add the 8 & 5.. Has to be 85 though not 58 or any other combo to = 13.. Should have put this one in the superstisions thread with my other obnoxious superstisions... LOL

[PREDFAN1]

AT THE AGE OF FOUR, MY SON REALLY COULD HAVE CARED LESS WHAT NUMBER HE HAD, BUT I KNEW THE NUMBER THAT I WANTED HIM TO WEAR. I FIGURED WHEN HE GOT A LITTLE OLDER I WOULD EXPLAIN MY REASONING TO HIM AND LET HIM DECIDE FOR HIMSELF.

5/4/27 BIRTHDAY OF HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER, THE PATRIARCH OF OUR FAMILY.

12/27/95 DAY MY FATHER DIED WHO ONLY GOT TO SEE HIM ONCE...10 DAYS BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY.

5/27/67 MY BIRTHDAY...HOPEFULLY TO REMIND HIM THAT WHENEVER HE PLAYS, I WILL ALWAYS BE RIGHT THERE WITH HIM.

5/27/94 DAY I FOUND OUT I WAS GOING TO BE A DAD FOR THE FIRST TIME...HE WAS BORN SOON AFTER.

5/27/94 MY 27TH BIRTHDAY...SAME AS ABOVE.

HE STILL WEARS THAT NUMBER TODAY...BY HIS OWN CHOICE...HIS NUMBER...27.

COLTER MAY # 27
8U TEAM SOUTH ROLLER BEARS

[dcdawgs]

I was reading all the different stories and I am surprised that many of you have #96, which is the number I use.

I use that number because of the year 1996. That year my Grandmother got cancer, so I do it in honor of her. I thought I would change it to 1999, the year she died because of the cancer, but I also wanted to honor Wayne Gretzky.

Josh

[missionhockey21]

I think its kind of cool how a majority of people have something very personal as the reason for there jersey. I dont know many people who do not care what # they get.

[RichardGraham]

Hi Mission,

I'm more concerned with the numbers on my paycheck... /wtimages/icons/wink.gif

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[missionhockey21]

LOL. I was trying to make a touching point and Rich ruins it by talking about his true love. ;-)

[RichardGraham]

Hi Mission,

You're right. I liked Josh's post a lot, too.

I only posted because my true love keeps disappearing... /wtimages/icons/shocked.gif

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[missionhockey21]

lol

[SpiderRat]

I guess you could say I have a history in DekHockey. I grew up in Leominster Ma. and have played at the Center for many years. I currently play for the Leominster Rams. Leominster is the birth place of DekHockey and to correct you, Leominster is the home to the "Nationals." Have been for almost thirty years. The first week in May. I was just invited to play goal for Team USA in the World DEk/Ball Championships in Switzerland. Due to family issues, I was unable to attend. I believe the team arrived home today. Not sure how they did yet. Question, do you prefer Dek or Inline?

[dcdawgs]

Rich,

It's all good man! Keep up the good work on the website, and maybe IHC will bring you the big bucks!

Josh

[missionhockey21]

I think rich dreams of that day ;-)

[sactosaxons]

C'mon now, he's already "Rich"!

Yea, I know, like he's never heard that before, huh?

[missionhockey21]

True, lol.

[drewski]

I've been playing for 7 years (11 seasons) and I've had the #10 for the first 6 seasons, #5 and #6 for the next two respectively, #2 for the 9th, #7 for the 10th, and finally # 10 for the last one. I'll have to say I've never felt better to dawn that #10 again...Solely based upon my age at the time and my favorite player of the time (Pavel Bure), #10 felt right...It also equals Roberto Luongo's # 1 + 0 = 1 (since Bure is no longer with the Panthers...my fav. team since they came out...don't ask me why, I live in Phoenix and they just are). So then with #5, I figured I could divide the #10 in 2 and get 5...proves it also gave me half of the # of wins I had the previous season (I'm a goalie). #6 was just because I joined late and it was all that was left (And I also tallied only one more win as the #5 jersey), and #7 was in honor of my baby brother's b-day (September 7). Trust me...the #10 is definitely it...I've always posted the lowest GAA, Save %, and W's when I wear it...it'll always be my jersey # whenever I can have it!

Drewski Da Goalie