Starting next season, no player in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League will be able to wear NO. 87 again. The league made the announcement after Sidney Crosby had his number No. 87 jersey raised to the rafters by the Rimouski Oceanic Friday night. Crosby spent two seasons with the team before being drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005. He recorded 120 goals and 183 assists in 121 regular-season games.
Crosby held back tears while receiving a standing ovation that went on for over eight minutes Friday night during his number retirement ceremony. He was joined by family and his girlfriend for the event, which captured quite a bit of attention as the two are rarely seen together in public. Crosby became the sixth player in Oceanic history to have his jersey retired. Receiving the honour before him were Allan Sirois, Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Michel Ouellet and Jonathan Beaulieu. He will become the first player ever to have his number retired league-wide by the QMJHL.
Of course, the only player in National Hockey League history to have his number retired across the league is No. 99, Wayne Gretzky. After Gordie Howe's death, Gretzky called Howe "the greatest hockey player ever", and said that if it were up to him, Howe's No. 9 would be retired for all NHL teams, the same as his own.
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