NHLOct 25, 2016 by Jacob Messing
Maple Leafs Retire 13 Numbers to Open Centennial Season
Maple Leafs Retire 13 Numbers to Open Centennial Season
Before the Toronto Maple Leafs dropped the puck on their 100th season, the franchise announced they would retire 13 numbers.
Before the Toronto Maple Leafs dropped the puck on their 100th season, the franchise announced 13 numbers would forever be put into the rafters.
The numbers, previously recognized as "honored," represent a total of 19 players, including Tim Horton, Mats Sundin, Doug Gilmour, King Clancy, Wendel Clark and Dave Keon who came in at No. 1 on The One Hundred, a compiled list of the 100 greatest Maple Leafs of all time.
No.'s 5 and 6, which represent Bill Barilko and Ace Bailey, respectively, were previously the only retired numbers of the franchise and we re-retired during the ceremony. The other numbers--1, 4, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 21, 27 and 93--were all honored, but remained in circulation.
The only "honored" number worn last season belonged to James van Riemsdyk, who has worn No. 21 since being traded to the Leafs ahead of the 2012-13 season.
With trade rumors circling the Maple Leafs for the past few seasons, van Riemsdyk said he wasn't sure what to expect when he received a phone call from Maple Leafs President of Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan during the summer.
"It was at a weird time," van Riemsdyk told the Toronto Star. "So I wasn't sure if I was getting traded."
He wasn't. Instead, he was let in on some of the hush-hush plans the soon-to-be hundred-year-old franchise had for the upcoming season. He was told to pick a new number because they planned on retiring No. 21, which was worn by Borje Salming for 16 seasons with the Maple Leafs.
Now, van Riemsdyk wears No. 25, which he jokes makes his 6-foot-3, 212-pound frame look even bigger. The new number seems to be working, too. van Riemsdyk--who was listed as No. 100 on The One Hundred--scored two goals and an assist through the team's first five games this season.
In addition to The One Hundred and the retirement of 13 numbers, the Maple Leafs' Air Canada Centre hosted the return of the World Cup, and the team now sports a freshly designed jersey.
Other ceremonies and plans will come throughout the season, including the Centennial Classic, an outdoor game the Maple Leafs will host against the Detroit Red Wings on January 1, 2017, at Toronto's BMO Field.
The numbers, previously recognized as "honored," represent a total of 19 players, including Tim Horton, Mats Sundin, Doug Gilmour, King Clancy, Wendel Clark and Dave Keon who came in at No. 1 on The One Hundred, a compiled list of the 100 greatest Maple Leafs of all time.
No.'s 5 and 6, which represent Bill Barilko and Ace Bailey, respectively, were previously the only retired numbers of the franchise and we re-retired during the ceremony. The other numbers--1, 4, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 21, 27 and 93--were all honored, but remained in circulation.
The only "honored" number worn last season belonged to James van Riemsdyk, who has worn No. 21 since being traded to the Leafs ahead of the 2012-13 season.
With trade rumors circling the Maple Leafs for the past few seasons, van Riemsdyk said he wasn't sure what to expect when he received a phone call from Maple Leafs President of Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan during the summer.
"It was at a weird time," van Riemsdyk told the Toronto Star. "So I wasn't sure if I was getting traded."
He wasn't. Instead, he was let in on some of the hush-hush plans the soon-to-be hundred-year-old franchise had for the upcoming season. He was told to pick a new number because they planned on retiring No. 21, which was worn by Borje Salming for 16 seasons with the Maple Leafs.
Now, van Riemsdyk wears No. 25, which he jokes makes his 6-foot-3, 212-pound frame look even bigger. The new number seems to be working, too. van Riemsdyk--who was listed as No. 100 on The One Hundred--scored two goals and an assist through the team's first five games this season.
In addition to The One Hundred and the retirement of 13 numbers, the Maple Leafs' Air Canada Centre hosted the return of the World Cup, and the team now sports a freshly designed jersey.
Other ceremonies and plans will come throughout the season, including the Centennial Classic, an outdoor game the Maple Leafs will host against the Detroit Red Wings on January 1, 2017, at Toronto's BMO Field.