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 55. Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 55
The First 55s
According to Hockey Reference, 130 players have worn sweater number 55 in NHL history. The website records noted tough man Tiger Williams as the first player in league history to don the digits. Williams wore 55 with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1984-85 season after wearing 22 for many seasons. The ironic thing is that Williams would get traded to the Los Angeles Kings after exactly 55 games.
The next player to take 55 was Brad Maxwell when he did so in the 1986-87 with the Minnesota North Stars for 17 games. Other players would jump on the bandwagon like Rob Ramage in the 1987-88 season with the Calgary Flames. Joe Reekie and Mike Stevens would also take on the 55 sweater in the 1988-89 campaign. Reed Larson and Ken Sabourin would wear the digits in the next season as Ramage took eight with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Murph
Larry Murphy came onto the scene in 1980 with the Kings and made an instant impact. However, the fourth overall pick would wear five and then eight with the Washington Capitals and the North Stars. Rod Langway had already worn five in the American capital while Murphy was just handed eight.
Murphy had always liked five and wanted to wear it with the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, Ulf Samuelsson had established himself in the number. It wasn’t all bad news as the Penguins had a penchant for players wearing big numbers. (If you been following this countdown, you completely understand.) The Scarborough, Ontario native gave sweater number 55 a try and the rest was history. He kept the number with the Maple Leafs and the Red Wings to wrap up a great career.
Murphy never won a Norris Trophy, but won four Stanley Cups and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2004. The defenceman sealed his place as one of the great blueliners in the 1980s and 90s.
Sergei Gonchar
Another should-be Hall of Fame defenceman that wore sweater number 55 is Sergei Gonchar. The Chelyabinsk, Russia native started out with the Capitals in 1994-95, but actually wore 17. He took 55 in the 1995 season and held onto it until 2002. Gonchar would have a spell with the number four in 1998-99 season. However, he would switch back to number 55.
Gonchar kept the number for the rest of his career and would win a Stanley Cup and play in 1,301 games. He wouldn’t win a Norris Trophy, but he would also carve out a great career of his own. Hopefully the Hall of Fame will get it right and induct Gonchar soon.
Other 55s
There have plenty of defencemen that have made the number one that is sought-after. Niklas Kronwall was a fierce hitter for the Red Wings and a fan favourite. Ed Jovanovski was a former top overall pick and played 1,128 career games. Colton Parayko has won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues.
Some good forwards have also worn sweater number 55. Mark Scheifele was the first-ever draft pick for the Winnipeg Jets and has been a staple of the team’s lineup for a number of years. Keith Primeau wore the number for many seasons and played in 909 career games. The number has become a staple of hockey lineups and has a great future after a sterling past.
Main photo by: Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images
