Here's some great news out of Phoenix for a great guy, former Sabres defenseman Teppo Numminen: The Coyotes are going to induct him into their Ring of Honor Jan. 30 in a pregame ceremony prior to their game against the New York Rangers. Numminen will become the first Coyotes-era player in the team's Ring, joining former Winnipeg Jets Bobby Hull (No. 9), Dale Hawerchuk (10) and Thomas Steen (25).
Numminen was a second-round choice of Winnipeg in 1986 and played with the team for 15 years (eight in Winnipeg and seven in Phoenix). Numminen appeared in a franchise record 1,098 games with the Jets and Coyotes, and ranks as the Jets/Coyotes’ all-time leader in goals, assists and points among defensemen. He was captain in 2001-02 and 2002-03, making him the last Coyotes player to wear the “C” prior to Shane Doan.
“Teppo Numminen was a true professional and a player I looked up to my entire career,” said Doan. “He played the game with a quiet confidence and at an elite level consistently during his career while always displaying his incredible shot. This is a tremendous honor for him and I am proud to have been his teammate and his friend."
Numminen announced his retirement Aug. 5 after returning to the Sabres last year following open-heart surgery that limited him to just the final game of the 2007-08 season. His 1,372 games are the most ever by a European-trained NHL player.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
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ex-Sabres | NHL
