Glen Wesley spent all but a few months of his NHL career with one of two franchises. Fittingly, he'll be honored -- and his No. 2 jersey retired -- when the Carolina Hurricanes host the Boston Bruins on Feb. 17.
"It makes it pretty special, starting my career out there," Wesley said. "Finding that out today, it was pretty exciting to hear that."
Wesley retired in June after 20 seasons in the NHL, the first seven with the Bruins and the final 13 -- minus a stint with the Maple Leafs in the spring of 2003 -- with the Hartford Whalers and Hurricanes. Only Ron Francis played more games in a Hartford/Carolina uniform than Wesley's 913. He was the last player left from the move to North Carolina in 1997.
When Wesley, 39, announced his retirement on June 4, he was still sitting at the dais when Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford announced the team would retire his jersey at some point during the next season.
The Feb. 17 date is included in the team's "white" 12-game ticket mini-plan, also announced Tuesday, and is included in the 26-game mini-plan.
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at (919) 829-8947, @LukeDeCock on Twitter or
Comments
Last of the Whalers
Sun, 07/27/2008 - 13:07 — Carolina_WhalerIt's nice to see Wesley getting the credit he is due. He was the last of the Whalers/Canes to retire, which in my eyes makes him one of the cornerstones of this franchise (Ron Francis being the other). He is one of the few of a dying breed, not too many people spend much time with a small handfull of teams. Most everyone knows that during a career in the NHL this day and age you get bounced around like a foster kid sometimes. I'm glad to see him sticking around with the team that stuck around with him for all these years. I for one can't wait to be there the night his number is lifted up into the rafters, along side all the achievements the team has accomplished for which he was a part of.
Outside view
Wed, 07/23/2008 - 13:12 — Anonymous (not verified)Well there's one person that doesn't think the Canes shouldn't retire Wesley's #. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Pens blog writer.
http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/emptynetters/archive/2008/07/23/why-you-ll-watch-march.aspx
Agree/disagree? While I think he was wrong in comparing Wesley's career to Shawn McEachren - I commetned it's closer to Rick Kehoe's, I can see why to outsiders they don't think it is deserving.
re: Outside view
Wed, 07/23/2008 - 19:24 — ctill... another example of how defensemen don't get enough respect, especially if they spend most of their career protecting the net instead of banging away at the point on a power play.
Fact is, Wesley's character and off-ice contributions (in the organization and in the community) counted for a lot.
2nd time 2 has been retired
Wed, 07/23/2008 - 08:44 — Mike Dickinson (not verified)Might this be the first time an organization has retired a number, unretired it, and now retired it again? (Rick Ley's number 2 was retired and still hangs in the Hartford Civic Center.)
Wesley celebration - what's ironic about date?
Tue, 07/22/2008 - 22:31 — GlenFan (not verified)Can't understand why anyone would think setting Wesley's special night on 2/17 is ironic. Ever since the schedule came out, I have been assuming that either 12/27 or 2/17 (both Bruins games) were the only logical dates. It makes sense to honor him on a night when the only teams that he ever played with (I don't count the brief time in Toronto) are both in the house.
And I hope it's also a good night for one of the guys (Samsonov) that Boston eventually drafted with one of the picks that JR gave up to get Wes. Many are the ways that Wes has benefitted this franchise - and I look forward to what he can do in the coming years for our young defensemen.
Wesley celebration set for Feb. 17
Tue, 07/22/2008 - 17:17 — Robert Gilday (not verified)Should be a wonderful night. Ironic that it happens to be when we play the Bruins. What would really make the night magical would be an appearance by the man who wore 7 at first, then changed to 77.
Retire number number what ?
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 12:13 — Little Stevie Blunder (not verified)Personally i think it is a wonderful thing that the canes are going to honor him in such a way...but on the same token....and while I do understand the 2/17 date...as a good time to do so...yet alot of fans will not give a fly fig...if the canes ait preforming as they should be..maybe we could hang & burn JR in effigy...or at least tar and feather him...if all fails...gee i got to get a life...I'm beging tosound like a hard core caniac...sigh..i guess there are worse things out there huh ? Like a seattle sonic fan...who don't them to move...whoops wrong forum...never mind that last part..hehehe