Right winger Jimmy Hayes had put a lot of thought into deciding which number he will be using with the Boston Bruins. The 25-year-old will now be wearing the No.11 in honor of a good friend as he starts with his new journey away from the Florida Panthers.
"I chose No. 11 to honor a good friend of mine, Corey Griffin, who passed away last summer," Hayes is quoted by the Bruins official website. "He had been a huge part of my family and his family. We go back to youth hockey days."
Griffin, who co-founded the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which went viral on social media last year passed away last August. The remarkably successful campaign raised millions of dollars with big donations coming from famous celebrities and notable personalities.
"He was a huge ambassador of this community as well. He was very influential in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, honoring Pete Frates. So he's just the type of kid that. … He would walk in with a smile on, brighten up everybody's day.
"Just to be able to wear No. 11, the number he wore in high school and throughout his hockey career, is an honor for me to wear this number."
Hayes, who wore No. 12 with the Panthers has an NHL career-high of 19 goals and 35 points in 72 games last season.
"I've never worn 11, so it's a special number for me," said Hayes, who recently signed a three-year contract with the Bruins. "Our other great friend, Brian Boyle, who plays down in Tampa, [changed his number to] 11, so. … Corey's always with us.
"I'll be able to wear 11 every night. He'll be with me every night, so it's just a huge honor for me to be able to wear it."
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