Sweater Switch '09, Part 1
Wednesday · Jul 8 · 2009 | 11:03 PM PDTI've gotten a lot of great suggestions from you guys about new features for Icethetics. Obviously, I haven't lost sight of our other unfinished projects (IceHL, logo tourneys, etc.). They'll be back soon enough. In the meantime, Evan writes in with an idea that's much closer to the heart of Icethetics than the Summer Moves Tracker.
We're all about jerseys here, right? Tonight marks the first edition of Sweater Switch '09, a summer series taking a look at players wearing new uniforms — and sometimes new numbers. As teams hold press conferences to introduce blockbuster free agent signees and other new players to their local media, I'll start gathering photos to share.
This should come as no shock, but I'm kicking things off with my team. Today, the Lightning introduced first round draft picks Victor Hedman and Carter Ashton to the public.
Carter Ashton (seated, left) and VIctor Hedman
Hedman opted for the No. 77 jersey because he "always looked up to Ray Bourque," according to the Lightning's Facebook page. Meanwhile, Ashton has declared he will not choose a number until he actually makes the NHL. Wise.
John TavaresDrafted first overall by the New York Islanders was John Tavares.
He was also introduced to fans and media on Long Island at the Nassau Veterns Memorial Coliseum. He donned his No. 91 sweater. No surprise there.
Tavares wore the same number through juniors and while I haven't been able to track down his reasoning, I can tell you it's not his birth year. He was born in 1990.
If anyone knows, drop me a line and I'll update this post. UPDATE: Scroll down to the comments and look for Jacob's extended explanation of Tavares' choice.
Sticking with the draft day theme, it was then that Chris Pronger was told he'd be joining a new team.
Chris ProngerOn Monday afternoon, Philadelphia media got their first look at him in his new orange Flyers jersey.
Pronger will wear the No. 20 sweater this season to honor his father who wore it in a senior hockey league.
He previously wore No. 25 with the Ducks, now worn by teammate Matt Carle. And earlier in his career Pronger was No. 44 during his long tenure with the St. Louis Blues. Kimmo Timonen wears that one in the black and orange.
We'll end Part 1 with new Minnesota Wild member, Martin Havlat, seen below.
Martin HavlatI haven't been able to track down much on Havlat's intro to the local media, aside from this picture and the fact that it took place last Friday, July 3. According to the team's web site, he's got the No. 14 jersey, though you can't tell here.
Last year in Chicago, Havlat wore No. 24, but Derek Boogaard already has that one tied up in Minnesota.
And that wraps things up for this edition of Sweater Switch '09. As ever, if you've got any pictures or links to share, you have my email address. Part 2 will be about as soon as I have another handful of players to talk about. I can tell you that Mattias Ohlund and Matt Walker arrive in Tampa on Thursday. When pictures from their presser surface, I'll have them.
One more thing. Thanks again to Evan for the idea of this series!
Reader Comments (14)
Pronger!
Apparently Tavares' "go-to" number is 19. Since that number is retired on the Isle (for Bryan Trottier), he's doing the old switcheroo and going with number 91.
The funny thing about the Havlat images is that they had him just throw on a blank replica jersey during his interview. You can see from other pictures on Wild.com that there was nothing on the back.
Marian Hossa & Tomas Kopecky are apparently keeping their Detroit numbers in Chicago. Chicago's site has video clips of Dale Tallon's press conference, and there's a Hossa jersey hanging in the stall behind him, that looks like a "1" at the end. The roster page also lists them in those numbers, but of course, that could change any minute :)
ummm. Jay Bouwmeester had his press conference before all of these guys...
Coming soon in Part 2: Bouwmeester, Ohlund, Walker and more!
Okay, I've done a bit more research on why Tavares wears number 91. As a mentioned before, 19 is Tavares' favorite number for unknown reasons (could just be lucky). He wore it all through his youth on various hockey clubs. When he reached the OHL and the Oshawa Generals, however, Lucas LaBelle was already wearing 19, so Tavares took the reverse - 91. When Tavares got to the London Knights earlier this year, neither 19 or 91 were available to him. 19 was retired since it was Brendan Shanahan's number, and 91 was currently being worn by Nazem Kadri. Since 19 and its reverse were taken on the Knights, it seems Tavares decided to flip a 9. He couldn't flip 19, since 16 was already taken by Dominic DeSando, so he flipped 91 and went with 61 which was available. Tavares still seems to favor 19 over the other numbers even today though, as it was the number he chose to wear in the most recent World Juniors. Now that he's with the New York Islanders, Tavares is going back to 91 because his favored number 19 has been retired in honor of Bryan Trottier.
Sorry for the long history lesson. I hope this helps!
Saku Koivu!
Interesting lesson, Jacob. Thanks! It's amazing all these stories behind the numbers that players wear.
For the Tavares and Pronger pictures... hopefully those are signs that those two teams will make their "alternate" jerseys their full-time home jerseys in the near future.
As far as I'm aware both philly and NYI are going to use their retro Jerseys as their home and their home as their third. :)
Jacob, thanks for that background! Sometimes we forget the human side of hockey, and stories like that increase the connection we the fans have to the sport.
I like the retro look of the Flyers & Islanders, I wish the Canucks would go back to the Black and Yellow but not the uniform with the V`s in front. Those were hideous.
carter ashton looks like stamkos
This Series Is Crazy!