By the Numbers: Five Outstanding NHLers to Wear Number 12
Some numbers in hockey just feel familiar, even if you can’t always explain why. Number “12” is one of those. It’s not flashy or overhyped—yet somehow, it’s been worn by players who left a real mark on the history of the NHL and on the fans who watched them. Here are five who turned that simple number into something memorable.
1. Jarome Iginla: The Flame That Never Went Out
If you followed the NHL in the 2000s, you probably remember Jarome Iginla doing a little bit of everything for the Calgary Flames—and usually doing it better than anyone else on the ice. He could score, fight, lead, and drag his team back into a game by sheer force of will. More than the trophies and milestones, fans remember the way he played: honest, hard, and with a pure level of enjoyment that made him impossible not to root for.
2. Yvan Cournoyer: The Roadrunner of a Dynasty
Watching Yvan Cournoyer in his prime must have been something. He didn’t just skate quickly—he was known to glide past defenders like they were standing still. And considering he won 10 Stanley Cups, it’s safe to say that speed had something to do with it. Ask any longtime Habs fan and they’ll tell you: when “The Roadrunner” hit the ice, you paid attention.
3. Dickie Moore: The Scoring Machine of the Original Six
Dickie Moore played in an era when offense was earned the hard way, and yet he still found himself at the top of the scoring charts—twice. He set a single-season points record in 1959, and he did it with a mix of determination and creativity that fit perfectly with those powerhouse Montreal teams. Even today, his name feels baked into the Canadiens’ identity.
4. Sid Abel: The Heart of the Production Line
Sid Abel isn’t always the first name that comes up in casual hockey conversations, but maybe he should be. As part of the legendary “Production Line” in Detroit, he was steady, skilled, and reliable in every sense. Multiple Stanley Cups later, he’d etched himself into Red Wings history—and did it wearing number 12.
5. Stan Smyl: The Steamer Who Powered Vancouver
For fans of the Vancouver Canucks who were around in the 1980s, Stan Smyl was the heartbeat of the team. Fans loved #12 in Vancouver; a member of both the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame and the British Columbia Hockey Hall of Fame. When Vancouver retired Smyl’s number “12”, it didn’t feel ceremonial—it felt personal, like the fan base was saying thanks for years of honest, hard-nosed hockey.
#12: A Number with a Lot of Hockey History Behind It
So what is it about number “12”? Maybe it’s the range of players who have proudly worn it—stars, leaders, grinders, game-breakers. Or maybe it’s just that so many of them connected with NHL fans in a way that stuck. Whatever the reason, jersey number “12” carries more hockey history than you might expect at first glance. And for plenty of fans, one of these players was the reason they fell in love with the game of hockey in the first place.
Related: Where Were You When: The Save That Shook Vancouver—Kirk McLean’s Legendary Stop