photo: Matt Zambonin/IIHF
Hockey players are creatures of habit. From game-day prep, to superstitions, to whatever routine they might have, they take comfort in making daily life the same. No complications, no changes.
Often that’s the way with their sweater numbers. They take a number for a specific reason, and change only to improve their play!
Here are some stories from players in Fribourg who answered one very simple question: Why do you wear that number?
#6 Michal Kempny, Czechia: “It’s my lucky number, and my wife’s, too. I’ve worn number 6 pretty much my whole career.”
#17 Eirik Saltsen, Norway: “I’ve had it for so many years now, but I chose it because the 17th is my birthday.
#29 Mikkel Aagaard, Denmark: “When I signed with MoDo about five years ago, my agent at the time played with number 29. Now he’s the team’s GM. I played with 29 with MoDo, but I hadn’t had much success with the national team, so I had a good year in Sweden with it, and 29 was also open with the national team, so I thought I’d give it a try.
#39 Dominik Pavlat, Czechia: Not only does he wear number 39 to honour Dominik Hasek, but he was actually named Dominik because of the great Czech goalie. “I was born soon after Nagano and my parents thought they would name me after him. I've never met him, but maybe one day.”
#41 Ivar Stenberg, Sweden: “I wear it because one of my favourite players growing up had that number in Frolunda. Mathis Olimb, a Norwegian player. He was really good when I was young.”
#42 Aurel Naus, Slovakia: “I usually wear 24 but it was taken when I first played with the team, so I switched the numbers around. But 24 has been in our family a long time. My dad and brother played with it, and I've used it all my life.”
#43 Max Krogdahl, Norway: “My brother had it, and he grew out of it. He was my idol, so I got to take it after him.”
#45 Magnus Hellberg, Sweden: “I started wearing 45 when I went over to the USA, when I was about 22. It didn’t have any specific meaning, but I wanted a number that was not used by a lot of goalies. I think the only NHL goalie who had it was Jonathan Bernier. I just wanted something cool. I’m 35 with my club team, but with the national team I’m still rocking 45.”
#49 Filip Sitar, Slovenia: “The first time I played in Malmo, I chose it, and I stuck with it. Not many players have the number, so it’s a good one for me. And now I’m with RPI, I chose it again.”
#51 Emil Heineman, Sweden: “That’s what I got in Montreal at my first training camp, and I’ve just stuck with it.”
#53 Alex Triivellato, Italy: “I was born on the fifth day, in 1993.”
#63 Patrick Russell, Denmark: “My mom and dad are born in 1963, so I wear it to honour them.”
#87 Canada’s Sidney Crosby, of course, was born on August 7, 1987, giving his 8-7 double meaning.
#88 Tommaso de Luca, Italy: “My idol is Patrick Kane, so I took his number.”
#95 Sweden’s Jason de la Rose just celebrated his 31st birthday wearing his birth year.
Often that’s the way with their sweater numbers. They take a number for a specific reason, and change only to improve their play!
Here are some stories from players in Fribourg who answered one very simple question: Why do you wear that number?
#6 Michal Kempny, Czechia: “It’s my lucky number, and my wife’s, too. I’ve worn number 6 pretty much my whole career.”
#17 Eirik Saltsen, Norway: “I’ve had it for so many years now, but I chose it because the 17th is my birthday.
#29 Mikkel Aagaard, Denmark: “When I signed with MoDo about five years ago, my agent at the time played with number 29. Now he’s the team’s GM. I played with 29 with MoDo, but I hadn’t had much success with the national team, so I had a good year in Sweden with it, and 29 was also open with the national team, so I thought I’d give it a try.
#39 Dominik Pavlat, Czechia: Not only does he wear number 39 to honour Dominik Hasek, but he was actually named Dominik because of the great Czech goalie. “I was born soon after Nagano and my parents thought they would name me after him. I've never met him, but maybe one day.”
#41 Ivar Stenberg, Sweden: “I wear it because one of my favourite players growing up had that number in Frolunda. Mathis Olimb, a Norwegian player. He was really good when I was young.”
#42 Aurel Naus, Slovakia: “I usually wear 24 but it was taken when I first played with the team, so I switched the numbers around. But 24 has been in our family a long time. My dad and brother played with it, and I've used it all my life.”
#43 Max Krogdahl, Norway: “My brother had it, and he grew out of it. He was my idol, so I got to take it after him.”
#45 Magnus Hellberg, Sweden: “I started wearing 45 when I went over to the USA, when I was about 22. It didn’t have any specific meaning, but I wanted a number that was not used by a lot of goalies. I think the only NHL goalie who had it was Jonathan Bernier. I just wanted something cool. I’m 35 with my club team, but with the national team I’m still rocking 45.”
#49 Filip Sitar, Slovenia: “The first time I played in Malmo, I chose it, and I stuck with it. Not many players have the number, so it’s a good one for me. And now I’m with RPI, I chose it again.”
#51 Emil Heineman, Sweden: “That’s what I got in Montreal at my first training camp, and I’ve just stuck with it.”
#53 Alex Triivellato, Italy: “I was born on the fifth day, in 1993.”
#63 Patrick Russell, Denmark: “My mom and dad are born in 1963, so I wear it to honour them.”
#87 Canada’s Sidney Crosby, of course, was born on August 7, 1987, giving his 8-7 double meaning.
#88 Tommaso de Luca, Italy: “My idol is Patrick Kane, so I took his number.”
#95 Sweden’s Jason de la Rose just celebrated his 31st birthday wearing his birth year.