A Series: Looking into Avalanche and Nordiques Player Numbers: Number 33

There have been eight men to have chosen to sport the 33 while playing for the Quebec Nordiques and Colorado Avalanche. The last player to have worn it, Roy, was such a success that the number has been raised to the rafters thus eliminating the potential for any other players to be added to this list. Unless the Avalanche are sold and the team pulls an Avalanche and un-retires all the numbers...

Dale Hoganson (80-82): Dale was the second round draft pick by the LA Kings in 1969. Dale played defense for the Quebec Nordiques from 1974 until 1982. In his time with the Nords he played a total of 422 regular season games and had 29 goals, 157 assists and 188 penalty minutes in that time. He played 33 playoff games had 2 goals, 9 assists and 20 penalty minutes. Dale was often injured. In his career he had three shoulder operations, a broken collarbone, broken toes, back problems and a hernia operation.

Paul Gillis (83): Paul was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the 2nd round of the 1982 draft. He played for the Nordiques from 1983 until 1991. He only wore the number 33 for one season, before switching to number 23. In 1983 he played 7 games, had 2 assists and 2 penalty minutes. Paul suffered from a rare disease: Guillain-Barre Syndrome. He lost all feeling in his legs and fingers... and this was deemed to be a "mild case". He fought it off and went back to playing hockey.

Dennis Sobchuk (83): Denis was drafted in the fifth round by the Flyers in 1974. He found himself in Quebec for his last NHL season. His number was retired by his WHL team. However, he only played 2 games for the Nords. He had one goal and 2 penalty minutes in those games.

Mario Gosselin (84-89): The first goalie on the list today, Mario was drafted in the 3rd rounds by the Nordiques in the 1982 draft. He played 192 regular season games, had 79 wins, 83 losses and 12 ties. How did Mario get into the NHL record book? He is the first goalie to lose a game without giving up a goal (an empty net goal led to the loss).

Mario Brunetta (88): Mario was drafted in the 8th round by the Nordiques in the 1985 draft. Mario would play parts of three seasons with the Nordiques. He played 40 regular season games, had 12 wins, 17 losses, and 1 tie.

Daniel Dore (90-91): Daniel was drafted 5th overall by the Nordiques in the 1988 draft. He would only play in 17 NHL games, all of them in the Blanc and Bleu. He had two goals, 3 assists and 59 penalty minutes.

Reggie Savage (94): Reggie was drafted 15th overall in 1988 by the Capitals. What sets Reggie's first goal apart from every other NHL player? He is one of only five players to have their first goal during a penalty shot. In his last season in the NHL he played 17 games and had 3 goals, 4 assists and 16 penalty minutes.

Patrick Roy (96- 03): I know you guys haven't heard of this last goalie... yeah, right. You all know the story. Known for his fiery temper, Roy was drafted 51st overall in 1984 by Montreal. Patrick played 11 seasons with Montreal Canadians before he got angry at the coach who left him in the net even though he was having a bad game. Once he was finally pulled Roy walked over to the Montreal Canadiens President and said "I've played my last game in Montreal. As-tu compris?!". And it was, at least as a Canadien. Montreal traded Patrick, along with Mike Keane (the Habs Captain), for Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Rucinsky, and Andrei Kovalenko. That year Roy led the Avalanche to win their first Stanley Cup. He did it again in 2001. In the end Patrick Roy won the Stanley Cup four times- twice with the Avalanche, the Conn Smythe Trophy three times - once with the Avalanche, William M. Jennings Trophy five times - once with the Avalanche, and the Vezina Trophy three times. His jersey was retired by the Avalanche in October 2003, while the Canadiens took an extra five years to make his jersey a part of their rafters. He was a first-ballot entry into the Hockey Hall of Fame.