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Mario Lemieux fine with Josh Ho-Sang wearing 66

By Dave Stevenson

Mar 2, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; New York Islanders right wing Josh Ho-Sang (66) skates in his first career NHL game during the second period against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; New York Islanders right wing Josh Ho-Sang (66) skates in his first career NHL game during the second period against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mario Lemieux has given Josh Ho-Sang his blessing to wear number 66. 

Jersey numbers are a bit sacred in sports. Players desire to wear them and will give up just about anything to wear their number of choice. Perhaps no league is more obsessed with jersey numbers than the NHL. While Wayne Gretzky’s 99 is the only universally retired number, many people feel like there should be other ones. Bobby Orr’s number four and Gordie Howe’s number nine come to mind. But Mario Lemieux’s 66 is most often mentioned in these discussions. New York Islanders rookie forward Josh Ho-Sang has been getting a lot of attention, both positive and negative, for wearing the number. For what it’s worth, Super Mario doesn’t really care.

“I’m fine with it,” Lemieux said, via the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. “It’s just a number. Number 4 and number 9 were worn by great players (Bobby Orr and Gordie Howe, respectively), and they are not retired forever. Players can choose whatever number they want.”

Ho-Sang wears number 66 because he thinks it’s the ultimate sign of respect for the legend. He’s right. It’s cool to wear number 66 and allow the number’s legacy continue to grow. While Gretzky is arguably the most important player in NHL history, why should his number be retired? His legacy can live on through players choosing to honor him by wearing it.

As Lemieux said, it’s just a number. It means virtually nothing. Hopefully this ends the debates over whether or not Ho-Sang should be wearing 66. If Super Mario couldn’t care less, why should anyone raise a stink about it?

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Ho-Sang is furthering the legacy of 66. Through his first 11 NHL games, he has seven points. Ho-Sang has a unique upside on offense and is tremendously fun to watch. The Islanders needed a spark plug for their offense and the young rookie has been one.

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