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 62. Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 62
The First 62s
According to Hockey Reference, a total of 62 players have worn sweater number 62. This is the first time the jersey number has matched the number of players that have worn it. Hockey Reference lists two players in the 1996-97 season to first wear the number. Andrei Nazarov of the San Jose Sharks and Steve Webb of the New York Islanders were the first to don the digits on the NHL ice.
Nazarov was a rugged forward that racked up 1,409 penalty minutes in his 571-game NHL career. The Chelyabinsk, Russia native would wear 23, 26, 44 and 45 during his career. Webb would only wear the number for his first season on Long Island. The Peterborough, Ontario native would switch to eight in the next season with the Isles. Webb would also wear 18 and 20 in his final seasons.
The Swedish 62
Carl Hagelin is currently a free agent, but has two Stanley Cup victories to his name. The Sodertalje, Sweden native has always donned sweater number 62 except for one season with the Anaheim Ducks in his 713-NHL career. Hagelin was a fixture of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals. He always seemed to have a penchant for getting big goals. This is despite not being very good on the power play according to one of his former coaches.
Hagelin was a part of the Penguins back-to-back championships and won a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. He’s a solid penalty killer and good in the bottom-part of the lineup. The forward may be 37-years-old, but he could find his way back into the NHL.
Others 62s
There have been some other good players to wear sweater number 62. Kevin Labanc has been a very solid part of the Sharks lineup for the last seven seasons. Paul Stastny took the number for a season with the Colorado Avalanche before in the 2006-07 season. However, he went back to his trademark 26 for most of the rest of his career. Artturi Lehkonen has a Stanley Cup victory and is becoming a solid part of the Avs roster. Brandon Montour had a strong playoff run with the Florida Panthers.
The future is still wide open with the number of players that are wearing sweater number 62. There’s hope someone with a fondness with the number can take it to the next level.
Main photo by: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
