Generals retire John Tavares’ number 91
Monday September 29, 2014
John Tavares, one of the Ontario Hockey League’s all-time greatest players, was honoured Sunday night by the Oshawa Generals who retired his number 91 jersey in a banner raising ceremony as part of opening night festivities at General Motors Centre.
Tavares was joined on the ice for the ceremony by his family, girlfriend, Generals President Rocco Tullio and family, Generals GM Roger Hunt, former coach Chris DePiero, and OHL Commissioner David Branch.
The highlight of the ceremony was Tavares’ emotional speech ending with the most fitting sentiment for the evening – “Once a General, always a General”.
Tavares’ name was lifted to the rafters with the number 91 officially becoming a retired number along with other Generals greats, Bobby Orr (2), Red Tilson (9), and Eric Lindros (88).
Selected first overall by the Generals in the 2005 OHL Priority Selection, Tavares was the first player ever to be granted ‘exceptional player status’ by Hockey Canada to be eligible to join the league in his 15-year-old birth year.
Tavares captured the Emms Family Trophy as OHL Rookie of the Year and also earned CHL Rookie of the Year honours in his first season with 77 points including 45 goals in 65 games.
The next season, Tavares earned the OHL’s Red Tilson Trophy for Most Outstanding Player of the Year and also earned CHL Player of the Year with 132 points on a league-leading 72 goals in 67 games breaking Wayne Gretzky’s OHL record for most goals scored by a 16-year-old player.
Tavares went on to win the OHL’s scoring title earning the Eddie Powers Trophy during his final season, 2008-09, with 104 points including 58 goals and 48 assists in 56 games.
It was during his final OHL season where he surpassed Peter Lee to become the OHL’s all-time goal scoring leader with 215 career goals in 247 games finishing his four-year OHL career with 437 points.
Internationally, Tavares also represented Canada at the 2008 and 2009 IIHF World Junior Championships winning back-to-back gold medals and earning Top Forward and MVP honours in 2009.
Tavares was selected first overall by the New York Islanders in the 2009 NHL Draft and has played in 350 career games with 315 points in his first five years in the NHL.
At age 24, Tavares is the youngest Canadian Hockey League graduate to ever have his jersey retired by his former club.
Click here to watch Tavares’ speech and for highlights of the jersey retirement ceremony.
