Who wore number 46 in NHL?

Whether we’re talking about jersey numbers or using stats in sports arguments, numbers have and will always have a place in sports in a variety of different ways. Players are recognized by their numbers and they are part of a player’s legacy.

David Krejci

David Krejčí is a Czech professional ice hockey centre known for playing with HC Olomouc in the Czech Extraliga (ELH). Krejčí played fifteen seasons for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was part of the Bruins’ Stanley Cup win in 2011 and led the NHL in points during the 2011 and 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs. He was named to the Czech national team for the 2010 and 2014 Olympic teams.

Jared Spurgeon

Jared Spurgeon is a Canadian professional ice hockey player known as the defenceman and captain of the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Spurgeon was selected 156th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Andrei Kostitsyn

Andrei Olegovich Kostitsyn is a Belarusian professional ice hockey forward.

The media have nicknamed him “AK-46”, a play on his initials (AK) and player number (46) in reference to the Soviet AK-47 rifle. His younger brother Sergei played together on the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators.

Roman Polak

Roman Polák is a professional ice hockey defenceman known for playing with HC Vítkovice of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). Polák was drafted in the sixth round, 180th overall, at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, the organization with which he spent his entire NHL career prior to joining the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014. He rejoined the Maple Leafs in 2016, after a brief stint with the San Jose Sharks. In the 2018 offseason, Polák signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Stars.

Carter Bancks

Carter Bancks is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. An undrafted player, Bancks played four seasons of junior in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and four more in the American Hockey League (AHL) before making his NHL debut in 2013 with the Calgary Flames. He later played the majority of his professional career with and served as captain of the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL). Bancks was born in Calgary, Alberta, but grew up in Kimberley, British Columbia.

Mike Blunden

Michael Charles Blunden is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger. He played with the Schwenninger Wild Wings in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Over his professional career, Blunden has appeared in over 100 National Hockey League (NHL) games with the Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, the Montreal Canadiens, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks.

David Booth

David Jonathan Booth is an American professional ice hockey forward known for playing with Manglerud Star in the Norwegian Elite League. He played with Dinamo Minsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Following his second year with the Michigan State Spartans, he was selected 53rd overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He spent four years playing college hockey before turning professional with the Panthers organization in 2006–07. After recording career-highs in goals, assists and points, as well as being voted the Panthers’ most valuable player by the team’s fans in 2008–09, he suffered two concussions the following season. Midway through his sixth year in the league, Booth was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in a four-player deal.

Known as an offensive forward and a fast skater, Booth has reached the 30-goal plateau once in his NHL career. Representing the United States in international competition, he has won gold medals at the 2002 IIHF World U18 and 2004 IIHF World U20 Championships. He has also competed in the 2008 IIHF World Championship.

At 6 feet (1.83 metres) and 212 pounds (96 kilograms), Booth’s size enables him to play in the style of a power forward. Along with his physical stature, he is a fast skater, both of which allow him to retain the puck and contribute to his offensive skills.

Curtis Glencross

Curtis Jack Glencross is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). An undrafted player, he signed with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim as a free agent in 2004 and made his NHL debut with the team in 2007. He has also played in the NHL for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Washington Capitals.

Glencross was an effective goalscorer and active within the community during his time in Calgary, which led to the team naming him its recipient of the Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award in 2012. After splitting the 2014–15 season between Calgary and Washington, Glencross was unable to reach a contract deal with any NHL team (despite pre-season attempts with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Colorado Avalanche) and opted to retire as a player. During his playing career, Glencross was a spokesman for the Special Olympics. He has also participated with Rae Croteau Jr.’s chuckwagon racing team in the summer.

Brandon Gormley

Brandon Gormley is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman known for playing with Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected 13th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. During his junior career, he has been named to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team, is a two-time QMJHL Second Team All-Star and won the President’s Cup with the Wildcats in 2010. Internationally, he has competed in two World U-17 Hockey Challenges, one Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and one IIHF World U20 Championship.

Scott Howson

Donald Scott Howson is a Canadian ice hockey executive and former player. He was formerly the general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played 18 games in the NHL with the New York Islanders between the 1984–85 and 1985–86 seasons. The rest of his playing career, which lasted from 1981 to 1986, was spent in the minor leagues. He later turned to coaching and managing, working for several years in the American Hockey League before moving to the NHL.

In July 2020, he took over as president and chief executive officer of the American Hockey League.

Brent Hughes

Brent Allen Hughes is a coach and a former ice hockey left winger. He played in the National Hockey League for the Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, and New York Islanders.

In his NHL career, Hughes played in 357 games, scoring 41 goals and 39 assists.

He served as the head coach of the Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League until that team ended its operations in 2008. On Wednesday February 19, 2009 he was hired by the Corpus Christi IceRays as their new head coach.

Tim Jackman

Timothy M. Jackman is an American former professional ice hockey player. He was the first player from Minnesota State University, Mankato to be drafted after becoming the Columbus Blue Jackets’ second round selection, 38th overall, at the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Jackman made his NHL debut during the 2003–04 season with Columbus, and has also played for the Phoenix Coyotes, Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, Calgary Flames and Anaheim Ducks.

Nicklas Jensen

Nicklas Jensen is a Danish ice hockey winger. He is known for playing with the Finnish team Jokerit of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

After beginning his career with Danish team Herning Blue Fox at the junior and men’s level, Jensen moved to North America in 2010 to play with the Oshawa Generals. Named to the OHL All-Rookie Team following his first year with the club, he was ranked 21st among North American skaters eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, where he was selected by the Vancouver Canucks 29th overall. Jensen spent most of the 2012–13 season with AIK of the Swedish Elitserien before returning to North America and playing for Chicago, the AHL affiliate of the Canucks. Jensen made his NHL debut with Vancouver in 2013, and appeared in 24 games for the Canucks over three seasons, spending most of his time with the team’s AHL affiliates, the Chicago Wolves and Utica Comets before being traded to the New York Rangers in 2016.

Jensen played for the Danish national junior team at two IIHF World U18 Championships at the Division I level, and won Best Forward in 2010. He also played in two IIHF World Junior Championships, and helped Denmark win their group at the 2011 Division I tournament. Jensen has also played for the Danish senior team at three World Championships.

Jean-François Jomphe

Jean-François Joseph “J.F.” Jomphe is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Phoenix Coyotes, and Montreal Canadiens between 1995 and 1999. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1993 to 2005, was spent in various minor leagues and in Europe. Internationally Jomphe played for the Canadian national team at both the 1995 and 1996 World Championships, winning a bronze medal in 1995.