Mooseheads release:
The Halifax Mooseheads announced on Thursday that the organization will retire former star forward Nathan MacKinnon’s number 22 jersey. The ceremony will take place on Friday, September 22nd, during the home opener against the Charlottetown Islanders at the Scotiabank Centre.
This jersey retirement will kick off the 30th-anniversary celebrations in Moose Country. The event will celebrate the junior hockey career of the Cole Harbour, NS native, Nathan MacKinnon, who captured a Memorial Cup Championship with Halifax in 2013.
“It’s a true honour to have my jersey retired by the Mooseheads. I can’t wait to share this moment with everyone back home in Moose Country,” expressed MacKinnon.
The 28-year-old MacKinnon has since played in over 700 games across 11 seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, with a notable highlight being a Stanley Cup title in 2022. MacKinnon will be the fourth player to have his jersey retired by the Mooseheads, joining the ranks of Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Alex Tanguay, and Jody Shelley. The team also honoured the legacy of longtime public address announcer Pat Connolly upon his retirement in 2009.
“Retiring number 22 at the Home Opener is the perfect way to begin our 30th-anniversary season,” said Brian Urquhart, Mooseheads President. “Nate grew up idolizing the Mooseheads, starred for the team, led us to a Memorial Cup, and now he’s one of the best players in the world. It will be a very special night for Nathan, his family, and all Mooseheads fans.”
MacKinnon became the first member of the Mooseheads to be drafted number one overall in the NHL when the Colorado Avalanche selected him in 2013. This followed an illustrious two-year QMJHL career with his hometown team. He recorded 63 goals, 90 assists for a total of 153 points in 101 regular-season games for Halifax. Additionally, he added another 61 points in 34 QMJHL playoff games. His MVP performance and hat trick in the Memorial Cup Championship game against Portland further solidified his place in Nova Scotia sports history.
“Watching Nathan’s career take off after joining the Mooseheads and now becoming a Stanley Cup Champion has been incredible to witness. We are so proud to share this night with him and his family,” said Mooseheads General Manager, Cam Russell.
The 30th-anniversary season of the Halifax Mooseheads, which features the highest season ticket base in the franchise’s history, promises to be thrilling for fans. A special anniversary jersey will be unveiled later this fall, and other promotional events will be announced throughout the season.
