Why Auston Matthews wears jersey number 34 for Maple Leafs

Hockey jersey numbers are a phenomenal look into each and every player's psyche, because they seem a lot less predictable than any of the other sports.

Pretty much from No. 1 to No. 99, NHL players have it covered. Auston Matthews, the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has one toward the middle: 34.

As you'd expect, Matthews has a great reason for wearing those digits.

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Why does Auston Matthews wear jersey number 34?

Matthews wears the number 34 because of his dad.

"I've been wearing it my whole life," Matthews told The Athletic. "My dad wore it when he played baseball and basketball."

Auston's dad, Brian, is from California.

Brian once told Sportsnet that when Auston was growing up in Arizona, baseball was his best sport.

Hockey worked out OK.

Famous NHL players jersey number 34

Matthews may be the best-ever NHL player to wear 34.

Two other notable names who did: Mikka Kiprusoff and John Vanbiesbrouck.

Kiprusoff was a goalie who won 319 games in his career between the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks.

Vanbiesbrouck was also a goalie, and he won the 1985-86 Vezina Trophy while winning 374 games in his career.

Matthews apparently chose a goalie's number, and he's made it work.

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