Blues wing Jaden Schwartz changes number to honor sister
St. Louis Blues left wing Jaden Schwartzannounced he will change his jersey number from 9 to 17 in honor of his sister, Mandi, who died from cancer in 2011.
The New York Daily Newsreported on the details of Mandi's battle with cancer.
Mandi Schwartz played three seasons for Yale before being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in Dec. 2008. Chemotherapy sent the cancer into remission, but it returned a year later and by 2011, following a stem cell transplant in Dec. 2010, she stopped treatment and died at 23.
Schwartz tweeted out the news on Friday night.
Mandi wore No. 17 when she played hockey for Yale University. The number became available when Blues forward Vladimir Sobotka left the Blues to sign with a KHL team.
Schwartz, 22, tallied 25 goals and 31 assists last season for the Blues.
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- Paul Palladino