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 63. Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 63
The First 63s
According to Hockey Reference, a total of 45 players have donned sweater number 63. The website lists Rene Chapdelaine of the Los Angeles Kings as the first player to take the number. Chapdelaine wore the number starting in the 1990-91 seasons and the following year. The Weyburn, Saskatchewan native would switch to eight for 13 games in the 1992-93 season in his final year with the club.
Two other players would next take on the number in the 1999-2000 season in Craig Darby and Radoslav Suchy. Darby had the number for 76 games with the Montreal Canadiens. The Oneida, New York native would have the number 2001-02 season before switching when he went to the New Jersey Devils. Suchy had sweater number 63 in his first season with the Phoenix Coyotes in 1999-2000. He’d switch to 15 in the same campaign.
The Rat Man
The most famous player to wear sweater number 63 is Brad Marchand, who has become a future Hall of Famer with the Boston Bruins. Marchand was drafted in 2006 and taken in the third round at the 71st overall pick. He was given the number 63 because of this combination of numbers. The Halifax native had always worn 17, but he wasn’t going to get the number from Milan Lucic. Marchand decided to stay with the number and it’s been a great number.
He does have a bit of an edge to his game and is closing in on 1,000 career games with the Bruins. Opposing fans often take a dim view of Marchand’s antics, but he gets the job done. He’s a four-time All-Star and a Stanley Cup winner. He’s clearly the most well-known 63 in the NHL.
Other 63s and the Future
There have been other good players that have worn sweater number 63 in the NHL. Josef Vašíček had a productive career with the Carolina Hurricanes and other clubs. Tyler Ennis played 700 career games with the number. Evgenii Dadonov has worn the number for many seasons with a variety of clubs as did Mike Ribeiro.
Jesper Bratt is carrying on the number right now with the Devils. Bratt has over 100 goals and is going to be part of an exciting young team. The future does look good for sweater number 63.
Main photo by: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
