New kids swap camp jerseys for their NHL digits

If you’re thinking about investing in a Dillon Dube or Juuso Valimaki jersey, they’ve officially selected National Hockey League numbers.

Dube, partial to No. 9 with the Canadian world junior squad or No. 19 with the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets and No. 59 in training camp, wanted to avoid the higher numbers — No. 91 or 90 was not ideal for the 20-year-old centre who cracked the Calgary Flames roster on Monday. So he settled on No. 29. “Lots of guys were chirping me — it’s a backup goalie number,” Dube explained with a grin. “But I think it’s good. It’s just a number.”

Tell that to a young kid growing up in Nokia, Finland, who idolized Teemu Selanne.

Valimaki, who’ll also start the 2018-19 NHL season with the Flames on a defence pairing with Michael Stone, swapped his camp No. 42 for No. 8 on Monday.

“Depo (Flames equipment guru Mark DePasquale) gave me a couple options, so I thought (No. 8) would be cool … it’s a pretty big number back in Finland when you look at who was wearing it for a long time,” said Valimaki who wore No. 6 with the Tri-City Americans and as captain of the Finnish world junior team.

“I’m actually really happy with this.

“He’s obviously one of the best to ever play the game, especially one of the best to ever play the game from Finland. Depo said, ‘He’s the Finnish Flash.’ That’ll be cool.”