Brown will wear same number for Wild that father did for Vikings

In most cases, changing a jersey number isn't very important. But for Minnesota Wild forward JT Brown, it is very important.

Brown will be wearing number 23 for the Wild, the same jersey number his father, Ted Brown, wore for the Minnesota Vikings from 1979-1986.

"In a sense I've always been able to choose my number and I've always wanted to kind of give back to him and what he's done to help me get where I am," Brown told NHL.com. "And I think it also adds a little bit to, to wear it in the state where he played professional football [with the Minnesota Vikings] and now playing hockey here to be able to wear that number is pretty special."
Brown wore 23 for the majority of his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning, but when he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks last season, it was already taken.
An offseason trade to the Wild changed things.
"I was fine with my other number as well but when it happened and we hadn't played a game yet I figured it'd be worth asking to see if we could get it done," Brown said. "I know there's a lot that goes with changing a number from jerseys to sweatshirts, websites, all of that has to get changed so I knew there was a lot that went into it. So even if that didn't happen I could have waited until next year, but either way I wanted to let them know that I wanted to change. I was thankful that they were willing to let it go through and I'm just happy to wear it again, it's a special number to me."
It is the first time he will get to wear the number in his home state, however, since his college days at Minnesota-Duluth. In Anaheim and at the start of this season, he wore No. 71.
"That was kind of my first number that I ever wore... 71 as a kid in Rosemount Youth Hockey so there was still a connection but I think I like my dad's connection a little bit better," Brown said.
The Vikings tweeted their approval of Brown's choice.

And to say the least, Brown's father, who racked up 7,396 yards from scrimmage and 53 touchdowns as the Vikings starting fullback for eight seasons, was happy about the number change, according to the forward.
"I just let him know. He said it's awesome. He was happy for me. I'm happy to wear it," Brown said. "For him, for me to want to wear it, it feels good. I basically idolized him growing up and always looked up to him. So to be able to see him smile because I chose and want to wear his number, makes me feel good too."
-- NHL.com writer Jessi Pierce contributed to this report.