UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For some players, the number on the back of their jersey has a lot of meaning. Whether the number brings them luck or honors a family member, it's hard for them to imagine stepping onto the ice just donning any number.
To others, the number is just that: a number. There isn't any real reason why they wear their number, and if it switched tomorrow, they would be perfectly fine with any one assigned to them.
13 players were enlisted to share how they got their number and elaborate on any (if at all) special meaning.
Ben Copeland – 14
"I was going to be 12, but Ben Schoen was 12 and he was committed here longer than me," Copeland said. "I was 14 just because it was one of the last couple options that was available."
Danny Dzhaniyev –13
"I wore number 13 when I played for the U.S. developmental team, and Pavel Datsyuk is a big role model of mine, so I chose that… but, I've always been 15. Throughout my whole career I've been 15. It's my birth date. I think that (number) brings me luck."
Paul DeNaples – 3
"When I was younger, I grew up a Michigan hockey fan. At the time, Kenny Johnson's brother, Jack, was playing there wearing number three. I began to like him and idolize him, so I started using 3 from there. Then as I got older, it's kind of become a religious number – like the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Bit of a Trinity, so I look at it from that aspect too."
Jimmy Dowd Jr. – 6
"I started playing hockey when I was 6 years old, and I got my number and I was like 'Oh, I'm No. 6 like Andy Greene on the Devils ... I've worn it my whole life. My second year of U16, when I played with the North Jersey Avalanche, I wore No. 9. Then the next year, I played for the New Jersey Titans in the NAHL and I wore No. 3, and then my two years with the Chicago Steel I also wore No. 3. After the two years I was like, 'I want my number back,' because that is my number. My number's 6."
Carson Dyck – 7
"My uncle was No. 7 when he played, so I went with that. I loved No. 12 all my life, and when I got here it wasn't available, so No. 7 was my first choice because my uncle wore it."
Dyck's uncle, Joel, had a long hockey career that ended in 2009. He played in the Asia League Ice Hockey (formerly the Japan Ice Hockey League until 2004) for 15 seasons with the Nippon Paper Cranes. Joel also represented Japan during the 2002, 2003 and 2004 IIHF World Championships.
Tyler Gratton – 28
"I was always 28 growing up, since I can remember… so it was pretty easy."
Kenny Johnson – 15
"I've been No. 3 my whole life because my brother and my father (wore it), it's just a family number. When I came to Penn State, I wanted to be No. 3 but Paul (DeNaples) had it… I quickly found out the reason he wears No. 3 is because his favorite player growing up was my brother, who wore No. 3. I was going to wear No. 5, but I kind of wanted to get away from the single numbers, never had a double before really… so I was like, I'll do 15. Looks solid, simple. I'll make it mine."
Johnson's father, also named Jack, played collegiate hockey at Wisconsin and Michigan State. Despite No. 3 being his number, the elder Jack donned No. 2 while playing for the Spartans. The younger Jack wore No. 3 while playing collegiately at Michigan and throughout his tenure in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche.
Xander Lamppa – 9
Lamppa wore No. 13 during his freshman year, but switched to No. 9 for this past season.
"I like numbers within 8 and 20, and (13) was the only number left," Lamppa said. "No. 9 was my dad's number when he played for Notre Dame and so I was No. 9 growing up. I was No. 9 in high school and just because of my dad too, it was an easy decision for me (to switch.)"
Lamppa's brother, Isaac, played collegiately for Creighton and also wore No. 9. Isaac now plays for the Great Lakes Hockey League's Fox Cities Ice Dogs, and continues to don No. 9, keeping with the familial tradition.
Connor MacEachern – 29
"I've always liked '9' in my number and when I saw No. 29 (was available) I jumped at it," MacEachern said. "When I was playing in Youngstown I wore No. 91, so there was a nine in that (too)."
Whether it's intentional or not, MacEachern's younger sister, Maggie, who plays for Colgate, also has a '9' in her number. The junior defender wears No. 19.
Chase McLane – 17
"I started as No. 11 last year, and that was just because No. 17 wasn't available, and my mom played hockey (and wore No. 11)… I wanted to be No. 11 because of her. This year I switched back to 17 because I got it when I was traded in juniors and I just fell in love with it. I honestly just really wanted something with a '7' in it. For some reason I think it looks good (on the ice), and I've had some good luck with No. 17."
Christian Sarlo – 10
"No. 10 was a number I wanted to be when I was younger, because my favorite player was Marian Gaborik for a while when he was on the Rangers. My dad was No.15 his whole life so he had me switch to that, and then when I got here, Kenny was No. 15, so I thought why not try No. 10 again. I think that one may stick now."
Sarlo's father, Tony, played collegiate hockey at Northeastern and Wagner.
Liam Souliere – 31
"I had the choice between Nos. 33, 30 or 31. "Carey Price is the Montreal Canadiens' goalie and that's his number. He's kind of my idol, so I picked that number because of him."
Kevin Wall – 21
"When I was growing up my brother… wore No. 21 and I always just went to his games and looked up to him. When I had the chance to pick my number for the first time, I wanted to be No. 21 because he was wearing it."
Wall also played lacrosse in high school at the Salisbury School, and wore No. 21 while he was on the team. Wall's brother, Brian, played lacrosse for Bellarmine. While Brian wasn't able to wear No. 21 during his time with the program, he donned 42 as it is 21 x 2.
For some Nittany Lions, like Copeland, their number doesn't just have any specific special meaning. For others, like Lamppa and Wall, the number they wear honors a family member.
There's no denying though that numbers hold some level of importance. Aside from wearing the number every time they step onto the ice, a player's number appears on their backpack, stick, and some team-issued apparel.
Whether players were given the number or chose it themselves, the number they wear at Penn State will forever be a part of their hockey career.
