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 50. Keep up to date with the series everyday until the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.
Behind the Sweater Number: 50
The First 50s
According to Hockey Reference, 78 players have worn sweater number 50. Hockey Reference lists Chris Clifford as the first player to don the digits with the Chicago Blackhawks. Clifford only had 50 for one game in the 1988-89, which was half of his NHL career. Three players would be the next to take the number 50 in the 1990-91 season. Dan Lambert, Scott Sandelin and Scott Scissons each took the number in that year. Sandelin would only end up playing 25 NHL games. However, he would end up with a career in coaching with the University of Minnesota at Duluth.
The number of players that would wear 50 in the 1991-92 season, including Olympian Clark Donatelli. Sweater number 50 would only be worn by Rob Murray in the 1992-93 campaign with the Winnipeg Jets.
Cameos
There were a few players that had a brief spell with the number 50. Ruslan Fedotenko started his NHL career with the Philadelphia Flyers with the number 50. The Russian would play 863 games in the NHL. Eric Fehr had a brief spell with the number in his rookie campaign with the Washington Capitals.
Adam Pelech started off as number 50 with the New York Islanders for three seasons before switching over to number three. Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner started off with sweater number 50 before bumping up to 74. Chris Tierney started off his career with the San Jose Sharks as number 50.
Our Man Crow
The player that’s taken the mantle of sweater number 50 is Corey Crawford with the Blackhawks. Crawford started off in the AHL with number 29, but was promoted to Chicago in the 2005-06 season. Blackhawks equipment manager Troy Parchman gave Crawford the number 50, but Crawford kept it. The goalie from Montreal said the number reminded him of a linebacker.
Crawford would played in 488 career games, but pack a lot of winning into that time. The goalie would win two Stanley Cups and two William Jennings Trophies. There are some that think Crawford was just a long for the ride with a stellar lineup in front of him. However, Crawford did record a 2.45 goals-against-average and a .918 save percentage. There may have been some great players in front of the goalie called “Crow.” However, he did his fair share of lifting in winning two titles.
Others and the Future
Another goalie with sweater number 50 has recently won a Stanley Cup. Jordan Binnington came out of nowhere to lift the St. Louis Blues to their only championship. Jonas Gustavsson was another goalie that donned the number 50 in between the pipes. Chris Mason was another netminder that took the number 50.Antoine Vermette had 50 for most of this NHL career, but would wear 80 in teaming up with Crawford for a Stanley Cup.
There are some good young players like Sean Durzi and Eric Robinson that are wearing sweater number 50. Durzi will keep the number with the Arizona Coyotes while Robinson has been 50 for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Main photo by: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
