Sweater numbers are synonymous with players. Most hockey fans can instantly tell you a great player by the number they wear on their back. There are many different stories about how players became associated with the famous numbers. Many odd and interesting facts surround these numbers as well. As we count down the start of the 2023-24 NHL season, we take a look at the story behind the numbers. Today we continue with sweater number 32 Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 32
The First 32s
According to Hockey Reference, 303 players have worn sweater number 32 since since jersey records were kept in the 1950-51 season. Hockey Reference lists John Adams and Steve Langdon as the first players to wear the number. Both players started in the 1974-75 season. Adams was a goalie with the Washington Capitals while Langon played for the Boston Bruins. Adams would wrap up his career that season with the Caps while Langdon would only play seven total games with the Bruins between 1974 to 1978.
Three other players would next wear sweater number 32 when Blake Dunlop, Don Jackson and Wayne Ramsey took the number. Dunlop would be the only one to record a point that season with an assist. The Philadelphia Flyers player picked up an assist in three games during the 1977-78 season.
Cameos
There are always a number of players that wore sweater number 32 that would go onto have decent to good careers. However, these were with other numbers. Future head coach Craig Berube had the number for two seasons in Philadelphia. Another future head coach in Rick Bowness donned the digits with the Winnipeg Jets. Alain Vigneault is a another coach that wore 32. Geoff Courtnall wore 32 for a time with the Bruins. Bruce Driver started his New Jersey Devils career with 32. Benoit Hogue spent a season with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 32, but got 33 back the next season in 1995-96.
The last helmetless player, Craig MacTavish, began his career in Boston with sweater number 32. Trevor Linden‘s time with the New York Islanders was in 32 after being 16 for the beginning of his career. Fellow Vancouver Canucks player Kirk McLean was 32 before finding success as number one. Future general manager Jim Nill wore the number while Gary Roberts started his Calgary Flames career with 32. Tage Thompson had 32 in his tenure with the St. Louis Blues.
The King of Quick
Jonathan Quick is likely the best goalie to wear sweater number 32. The Connecticut native actually started his career in the ECHL and worked his way up the Los Angeles Kings system before arriving in December 2007 with the big club. Quick would establish himself as the Kings starting goalie and became part of their two Stanley Cup victories in 2012 and 2014.
He is in the end part of the career, but will now get to play for the team he supported growing up, the New York Rangers. Quick also grabbed a third Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights after being traded from the Kings.
A story in the Athletic said that the trainers just gave him sweater number 32 and it stuck. Quick said that he had other numbers like 35, 29 and 33, but this one stayed with him. He’ll continue to wear 32 with the Blueshirts this season.
Other 32s
Dale Hunter could make an argument for being the best to wear the number. Hunter racked up 1,000 points and over 3,500 penalty minutes in his career. Fellow rough men like Rob Ray and Stu Grimson made his living in the 32 jersey for a number of seasons. Role-players like Murray Craven and Mike Eastwood also had long careers with the number. Claude Lemieux began and ended his career in sweater number 32. Stephane Matteau will be loved by Rangers fans for his goal in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals.
Steve Thomas wore 32 for a number of seasons as did future Boston general manager Don Sweeney. Goalies have besides Quick have made the number their own like Arturs Irbe, Kari Lehtonen,
Main photo by: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
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