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 65. Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 65
65 Roses
According to Hockey Reference, a total of 37 players have worn sweater number 65 in NHL history. The website lists Mark Napier as the first player to don the digits. Napier had the number with the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres, but for a great reason. In Scott Morrison’s book By the Numbers, Napier became involved with a Cystic Fibrosis charity called 65 Roses. There is a great story on how the charity got its name right here. Napier had worn 31, 16 and 18, but switched to 65 to honour the charity.
The organization also played a hand in another player taking sweater number 65. Tim Hunter was always known as a tough man, but showed his softer side when he took 65 for the Quebec Nordiques in the early 1990s. His time with the number didn’t last long in only 48 games before being traded. However, this also showed the reach of the charity.
EK65
There were a few players that wore sweater number 65 through the 1990s and 2000s. Ron Hainsey first wore the number with the Montreal Canadiens in the 2002-03 season. However, another defenceman would make the number his own.
Erik Karlsson would debut with the Ottawa Senators in the 2009-10 season. The man who would become “EK65” developed into one of the best offensive defencemen in the world. Karlsson took his first of three Norris Trophies in the 2011-12 season with the Senators. The Landsbro, Sweden native would get his second in 2014-15 with Ottawa.
Karlsson would get traded to the San Jose Sharks, but it would take some time for him to get back to his old form. However, he came roaring back in the 2022-23 season to win his third Norris eight seasons after his last one. The veteran has become a hot commodity and the subject of frequent trade rumours.
As for his number, Karlsson gave a simple answer. He said on Twitter or X or whatever you want to call it that he wears sweater number 65 in honour of both his parents birth year. He wore five on the international level a couple of times, but kept 65 mostly. Karlsson is the name people think of when they think sweater number 65.
The Rest and the Future
There have been other players to don the number in recent seasons. Danny DeKeyser had a long run with the number with the Detroit Red Wings. Andre Burakovsky wore the number with the Washington Capitals before making his way to the Colorado Avalanche. Yanni Gourde took 65 for two seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrew Shaw wore the number with the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal.
Sweater number 65 is a number that has gotten a lot more run in recent seasons thanks to the play of Karlsson. There are probably a good number of young players that look up to the Swedish superstar. The number will be a popular one in Ottawa and Sweden for a long time to come.
Main photo by: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
