THE APEX TIMES
62 Days to Opening Night: Kevin Labanc’s Long Run as the San Jose Sharks’ No. 62
For more than half a decade, the San Jose Sharks’ number 62 has been closely associated with Kevin Labanc, even as the franchise’s jersey-history has moved through a few different hands.
As the Sharks move through their build toward opening night, one small detail has offered a larger thread of continuity: the path of the franchise’s No. 62. Over the years, three players have worn that number for San Jose, but for more than half a decade it belonged to Kevin Labanc, giving the numeral a familiar identity in the Sharks’ modern era.
The way a jersey number becomes shorthand for a player is not new in pro hockey. Teams carry numbers across eras, but only a select few end up “meaning” something to fans and teammates. In this case, Labanc’s stretch with the Sharks did more than keep No. 62 on the ice. It turned the number into a recurring visual marker for his presence, his role, and the seasons in which he was a steady part of the lineup.
What makes the Labanc story worth revisiting is how it sits inside the broader, revolving nature of NHL rosters. The Yahoo Sports feature that frames this opening-night countdown highlights that No. 62 has not been exclusively one person’s for long stretches across franchise history. Instead, it has passed among multiple players, with Labanc owning it for a notably long span compared to the others who have worn the same digits for the Sharks.
That kind of tenure can matter in the day-to-day culture of a franchise. When a player holds a number for years, the number begins to carry expectations, even informally. It becomes part of the internal language of the organization, and it shapes how fans track continuity from one year to the next. In a league where change is constant, a prolonged pairing between a team identity and a player’s number can act like a quiet anchor.
Labanc’s association with No. 62 also fits a common NHL reality: most players will be linked to a number, but fewer will be linked to one for long enough that it feels like a fixture. The Sharks’ roster has evolved around him during that span, and the organization has still found its way through offseason resets and lineup adjustments. Yet No. 62 stayed connected to Labanc long enough to become recognizable on sight.
As opening night approaches, the franchise’s jersey-number history adds an extra layer to the usual season-opening focus. There is the lineup and the opponents, but there is also the question of which numbers will look most familiar to supporters once the puck drops. With No. 62 tied to Labanc for so many years, the Sharks’ next chapter will inevitably include a new set of visual cues, even if the organization’s habits and expectations remain rooted in what has come before.
Why It Matters
- Jersey numbers become fan shorthand, and a prolonged run can make a player’s presence feel more embedded in a franchise’s day-to-day identity.
- Roster churn is constant in the NHL, so long associations like No. 62 and Labanc underscore how continuity can still survive amid change.
- As the Sharks head into opening night, the jersey-history angle adds context for how supporters may interpret what is familiar versus what is new.
- The next time No. 62 appears in games, it will carry the weight of a prior identity, even if the on-ice role differs.
Key Facts
- The Sharks’ No. 62 has been worn by three players over the years.
- Kevin Labanc is identified as the player who wore No. 62 for more than half a decade with San Jose.
- A Yahoo Sports story published on August 1, 2026 uses the No. 62 detail as part of a “62 Days to Opening Night” theme.
- The feature frames the number’s history as a way to connect opening-night anticipation to the franchise’s recent continuity.