Why do goalies usually wear numbers in the 30's?

Question

Obviously there are exceptions, but this has been bugging me forever and I can't find the answer! A sub-question would be why are most defensemen's numbers in the single digits? Is this just "tradition"? Thanks!

I'm in America, so I watch the NHL. Just for starters, Aebischer: 30, Brodeur: 30, Bryzgalov: 30, Cloutier: 39, DiPietro: 39, Giguere: 35, Hasek: 39, Lundqvist: 30.... I could go on but that could get boring.

Answer 1

Ok - a little bit of kind of an answer and working through some of the ideas sent out.

First off, #1. At least at the NHL level I can't think of actually anyone who actually wears #1. Meanwhile, the reason that goalies in hockey might have started wearing #1 (whenver they did, if they did) is because they used to only have the numbers of the people playing like in soccer. According to gamewinners.com board - it seems that in the UK soccer leagues, the numbers were set up by position:
1. Goal Keeper
2. Right Back
3. Left Back
4. Centre Back
5. Centre Back
6. Central Midfield
7. Right Midfield
8. Central Midfield
9. Striker
10. Striker
11. Left Midfield

So perhaps that is where goalies, even in the sport of hockey started wearing the #1.

The second link below may have something to do with the answers previously given regarding #1s and #30s.

The third may have the answer you seek, but I can't tell since I haven't bought the book which is called "The Little Book of Hockey Sweaters".

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

back in the old days players whore numbers from 1 to 20's mostly goalies whore number 1 and star players whore number 9.... 9 was the biggest number for most teams top players but most of those jersey numbers have been retired and so that's why most NHLers wear different numbers like 68 or 74 cause most of the lower number between 1 and 10 are retired same goes with the goalies and yes their is still some goalies that wear number 1 in the NHL like: (Atlanta) J. Hedberg, (Ottawa) R.Emery, (Tampa Bay) S. Burk, (Toronto) A. Raycroft, (Washington) B. Johnson, (St-Louis) C. Sanford, and Vancouver's R. Luongo and that's just to names of the ones that have signed a new deal or have been traded and they will be more goalies wearing number 1 when the new season starts.

Answer 3

I don't know about how they number players in hockey but I know the NFL does use number ranges for positions. As evidenced by Reggie Bush having to fight to get to wear number 5 as a running back (he lost the fight though). I don't know the exact numbers but QBs and kickers are usually 1-19. Receivers tend be in the 80s. Defensive players seem to be in the 50s, 70s and 90s. There are of course exceptions. Running backs seem to be in the 20s and 30s. I don't know who is in the 40s or 60s.

Answer 4

I can't think of any goalie in the nhl that wears # 1 any more. That is the way it used to be but most do wear #'s in the 30's now. I do not know why. I wear #26 because it is my lucky number

Answer 5

I agree. The primary goalie is usually number 1. Where are you watching hockey!

Answer 6

Most of the older teams probably have their #1 jersey retired. I wear #29.

Answer 7

not many guys wear one anymore, maybe emery, raycroft and luongo. guys are starting to branch out (a lot wear 29) and into the 40's too.

there aren't any typical numbers for positions in any sports anymore.

Answer 8

They are normally 1!

Answer 9

Sports use number ranges for positions sometimes so they can be easily categorized

Answer 10

Maybe because those are the only numbers available