MacKinnon’s ’22’ to be retired at Mooseheads home opener

Number 22 is heading to the rafters at Scotiabank Centre.

Cole Harbour’s Nathan MacKinnon will have his jersey retired ahead of the Halifax Mooseheads home opener against Charlottetown tomorrow.

Local sports broadcaster Logan Delaney says MacKinnon was in a league of his own in Halifax.

“To come in with Halifax at such a young age, in the short two years he was there he brought them to a national title. Then he took off with his NHL and International career. He’s definitely Mr. Moosehead, there’s no question about that,” says Delaney.

MacKinnon led the Mooseheads to their only Memorial Cup championship in 2013.

He’ll become the fourth player to have his number retired by the franchise, behind Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Alex Tanguay and Jody Shelley.

“We haven’t seen a number raised to the rafters in 20 years. It’s such a special honour to have your number retired. There will be lots of fans there, the Mooseheads have set a season ticket holder record.”

Delaney says the Mooseheads have a strong returning group from the squad that went to the QMJHL final last season.