By the Numbers: #45 and Jonathan Bernier—A Toronto Maple Leaf in Time
Not Every Number Needs the Spotlight
Some numbers in Toronto Maple Leafs history come with instant recognition. Others take a second. Number “45” definitely falls into the second group. It’s not flashy, it’s not retired, and it doesn’t scream “franchise legend”. But if you were watching the Maple Leafs closely in the mid-2010s, you know exactly what it means. You see number “45”, you think Jonathan Bernier, and suddenly you’re back in a very specific chapter of Maple Leafs hockey.
A New Goalie, a Familiar Challenge
Bernier arrived in Toronto in 2013 with plenty of intrigue. He had pedigree, a Stanley Cup ring from Los Angeles, and the sense that he might be ready for more. The Maple Leafs weren’t asking him to be perfect—they were asking him to stabilize the crease. That’s never a small request in the Toronto market. Still, Bernier took the job wearing number “45” and handled it with a calm that fans quickly noticed, especially on nights when chaos unfolded in front of him.
The Season Fans Remember Most
For many Maple Leafs fans, Bernier’s first season is the one that sticks. He played a lot (55 GP), faced a ton of shots, and more often than not kept games from getting out of hand. Those were the nights where you’d flip on the TV, see Toronto getting hemmed in, and think, well, at least Bernier’s playing. That kind of trust matters. His Winter Classic performance against the Detroit Red Wings remains a clear highlight—big stage, huge crowd, and Bernier locked in. For a few hours, number “45” felt like the most reliable thing on the ice.
45: Life in the Toronto Crease
That’s not to say everything was smooth. It wasn’t. Defensive lapses, injuries, and changing roles made consistency tough. Bernier spent plenty of nights—in the Toronto crease—under a microscope, because that’s what happens when you’re the goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs. But even when results weren’t there, the effort usually was. You could see it in the way he battled through traffic or reset after a bad goal and stayed focused.
What #45 Still Represents in Leafs Nation
Bernier’s time in Toronto ended in 2016, and his NHL career carried on elsewhere. But for Maple Leafs fans, number “45” still represents something familiar: a goalie grinding through a difficult era, doing his best to hold the line. It’s not a legendary number, but it’s an honest one—tied to memories that still resonate with anyone who lived through those Toronto Maple Leafs seasons.