Islanders Names & Numbers: Now & Half Century Ago
Hockey player's numbers have always fascinated Stan Fischer. In his latest, The Maven goes through the Islanders' numbers from now and a half-century ago.
Hockey player's numbers always fascinated me -- and still do.
My first favorite New York Islanders number was six, which belonged to solid defenseman Bert Marshall. He helped tutor future superstar Denis Potvin and was an early playoff hero.
Six was my number of choice since childhood because my original baseball hero was the immortal St.Louis Cardinal, Stan (The Man) Musial, who wore a 6 on the back of his uniform.
I still happen to favor number six and am delighted that the current steward of it happens to be one of my contemporary faves, defender Ryan Pulock.
Here's how the numbers and names stack up -- 50 years ago and now:
1. Goalie Glen (Chico) Resch. Neither of our current goalies wear the original goalie number one.
2. Defenseman Gerry Hart = D-man Robin Salo.
3. Defenseman Bryan Lefley = D-man Adam Pelech.
4. Defenseman Jean Potvin = D-man Samuel Bolduc.
5. Hall of Fame D-man Denis Potvin. (His number is retired and honored in the UBS rafters.)
6. Defenseman Bert Marshall = Ryan Pulock.
7. Forward Germain Gagnon = D-man Grant Hutton
8. Forward Garry Howatt = D-man Noah Dobson.
9. Forward Bryan Spencer = Hall of Fame left wing Clark Gillies. (His number is retired and honored in the UBS rafters.)
10. Forward Lorne Henning = Forward Simon Holmstrom.
11. Forward Dave Hudson = Forward Zach Parise.
12. Forward Ernie Hicke = 0 (was Josh Bailey)
13. None = Forward Mathew Barzal.
14. Forward Brian Marchinko = Forward Bo Horvat.
15. Forward Billy Harris = Forward Cal Clutterbuck.
16. Forward Ralph Stewart - Forward Arnaud Durandeau.
17. Forward Tom Miller = Forward Matt Martin.
18. Forward Ed Westfall = Forward Pierre Engvall
19. Hall of Fame center Bryan Trottier. (His number is retired and honored in the UBS rafters.)
20. Forward Doug Rombough = Forward Hudson Fasching.
21. Forward Andy St.Laurent = Forward Kyle Palmieri.
22. Forward Vic Teal = Hall of Fame right wing Mike Bossy. (His number is retired and honored in the UBS rafters.)
23. Right Wing Bob Nystrom. (His number is retired and honored in the UBS rafters.)
25. Defenseman Dave Lewis = D-man Sebastian Aho.
27. Left Wing John Tonelli. (His number is honored in the UBS rafters,) Worn by Captain Anders Lee.
30. Goalie Gerry Desjardins = Ilya Sorokin.
31 Hall of Fame Goalie Billy Smith. (His number is retired and honored in the UBS rafters.)
91. Center Butch Goring. (His number is retired and honored in the UBS rafters.)
Other current numbers with no 1973-74 match:
24. Defenseman Scott Mayfield.
27. Forward Anders Lee.
28. Defenseman Alexander Romanov.
29. Forward Brock Nelson.
32. Forward Ross Johnston.
36. Forward Otto Koivula.
40. Goalie Semyon Varlamov.
44. Forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
53. Forward Casey Cizikas.
As for The Maven's Personal Favorite Number All-Star Team, here goes -- and why:
Goalie Glenn (Chico) Resch: Throughout NHL history and up through the NHL's Original Six, puck stoppers traditionally wore Number One. My buddy Glenn maintained the rich tradition, which now, sadly, is ignored.
Denis Potvin's Number Five forever resonates in my heart since I regard him as the greatest defenseman in history and the captain of four Cup-winning teams, alias dynasty.
As noted earlier Number Six has been my favorite numeral since childhood. Bert Marshall wore it so well, so nobly, that my other fave 6, Stan Musial, would have been proud.
I'm tickled with Mathew Barzal in a lot of ways, especially since he broke the anti-13 tradition and has worn it without fear of bad luck and other myths that go with it.
As for number eighteen, there has only been one player in hockey history that I know of who didn't have to be called by name. "Eighteen" could only mean original captain Ed Westfall.
Finally, a tie -- 23 and 27. Bob Nystrom and John Tonelli. The penultimate pair conspired on the 1980 first Stanley Cup-winning goal and also symbolized the Isles work ethic.