Wild's Dumba asks permission from Len Boogaard for number change
Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba elected to change his jersey number, but not without first making a phone call.
Dumba asked permission from Len Boogaard if he was accepting of the 21-year-old changing his number from 55 to 24, which was the jersey worn by Boogaard's late son Derek. The younger Boogaard played with Minnesota from 2005-2010 before passing away the following year from an overdose of oxycodone and alcohol.
Rugged Matt Cooke had recently worn the number before being bought out by the Wild with one year remaining on his contract.
The seventh overall pick of the 2012 draft, Dumba originally wore No. 24 with both Red Deer and Portland in the Western Hockey League. The Saskatchewan native collected eight goals and as many assists in 58 games last season.
(h/t Minnesota Wild)
Got an email from Len Boogaard saying Matt Dumba called him last week asking permission to wear Derek's #mnwild 24. "Classy kid," Len wrote
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) July 28, 2015
