Don't Wear it Out...

1990-91 Topps #59

Just another common junk wax card that I didn't already have...

A welcome addition to my collection of 1990-91 Topps.

Will probably eventually end up buying the entire set for five bucks - But it's still fun to slowly acquire more cards, a few at a time.

This Vancouver team card also shows a player wearing number 10, but it isn't Pavel Bure.

I instantly tend to associate number 10 with the speedy Russian Rocket...



Thought it might be Geoff Courtnall, because I watched an old playoff game (possibly Los Angeles against Vancouver) from 1991 where number 10 was worn by Geoff Courtnall...

The pictured player is likely Brian Bradley, who wore number 10 with the Vancouver Canucks from 1988 to 1991.

A trade in January 1991 sent Brian Bradley to Toronto.

In March 1991, the Vancouver Canucks acquired Geoff Courtnall from the St Louis Blues in a big grade (that also included Sergio Momesso and Cliff Ronning).

Geoff Courtnall had been number 9 with the Blues... When he joined Vancouver, 9 was occupied by Andrew McBain, so Courtnall took the now vacant jersey number 10.

It appears that Geoff Courtnall chose jersey 14 the following season, when that number became available. (Number 14 had been worn by free agent Steve Bozek who joined the new expansion team San Jose Sharks)


This would once again leave jersey number 10 vacant when rookie Pavel Bure debuted the next season.

Pretty sure the NHL has a rule that the same player cannot change numbers midseason.