Numbers in sport have unwritten but understood associations. Similar to football, in hockey your position often defines what number you wear.ESPN caught up with some of the Indian Junior Hockey team players to get an insight into why they opt for the numbers they do, and which ones they would want, when things dont go their way. More often than not, there was a story behind it:No 10: The big shot The number 10 jersey in football is usually handed out to someone considered the brightest talent in the team. Think Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, or Eden Hazard. Opposition teams in Lucknow have already identified a certain number 10 in the Indian team - striker Armaan Qureshi.While Qureshi had a host of reasons for picking the number 10, it was the football fan in him that had the final say. Apart from hockey Im a huge fan of football and especially Messi, says Qureshi He is a number 10 too. When I had the option of choosing it was obvious I had to pick that number.However, Bhopal-born Qureshi, also has another, more personal reason for his choice - to keep up a family tradition. His uncle Hasrat Qureshi, who also represented the country in the 1990s, wore the number 10.I started playing hockey watching him. I used to use his stick when I started. So it made sense to wear the same number as well, he says.21: Not what the captain ordered Harjeet Singh, captain of the junior team, you expect, would be on top of the pecking order. 21, though wasnt his first choice. His prefers the number 5, one he wore ever since he started playing hockey.I wore this jersey (number 5) even when I was playing at school at the Surjit Singh Academy in Jalandhar, Harjeet saysThe central midfielder always wears this number. I was hoping to wear this number at the senior squad too but Kothajit Singh already had this. But now, 21, holds special meaning for him, and he has worn it since. The jersey I had when I first played for the seniors will always be special, he says.Not content with being No. 1 Drag flicker Harmanpreet Singh has a similar story. His original choice is 13 - the number he began his hockey career with. The number is generally considered inauspicious but its often the first option for most Indian players.The number 13 is holy for the Sikh community. Its a number associated with Guru Nanak. (13 is terah in Gurmukhi which is phonetically similar to the word which means yours. i.e sab terah Waheguru) Im a Sikh so I wanted a number that means something to me, says Harmanpreet.Unfortunately for him, the number was already taken when he arrived at the national team by currently out of favour Gurbaj Singh. So Harmanpreet had to make do with jersey number 1, which he has continued with.Lucky No. 11? Striker Mandeep Singh had luck on his side though, and it wasnt 7. When Mandeep played for the Ranchi Rhinos in the Hockey India League (HIL), Englands Ashley Jackson wore his favorite number - 11. The HIL was where Mandeep first came into national reckoning and although he wore a number 22 jersey, his eye was always on the number 11.The moment I was picked for India, I asked if the 11 jersey was available. Luckily it was, says Mandeep.A goalkeeper with a forwards No 9 Goalkeeper Krishan Pathak, is another who hasnt got his jersey choice. He wanted 12 but that has already been assigned to teammate Dipsan Tirkey. Pathak, as the teams second choice goalkeeper is currently 9.But he hopes to get the jersey of his choice. Its his way of paying tribute to the player he considers his mentor. Yogita Bali, the Indian womens teams first choice goalkeeper, first spotted Pathak when he was 11 years old at the Railway Ground in Kapurthala. Pathaks family is of Nepali origin and hockey was something that wasnt even considered as an option.Yogita didi has always supported me, Pathak says I didnt have money to buy a goalkeepers kit but Yogita didi lent me her own. That was my first kit. If Im in the junior team now it is because she has always supported me. She wears 12 and I want to honour her by wearing the same number. Thats what motivates me to get even better than I am, he says. Cheap Portugal Jerseys .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Authentic Soccer Jerseys Store . 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PHILADELPHIA -- If the Ottawa Senators are looking to infuse some goal-scoring into their anemic offense, they are coming to the right place.The Senators, who rank 27th in the NHL with an average of just 2.20 goals per game, visit the Philadelphia Flyers, who rank last in the NHL in goals allowed per game (3.63), on Tuesday night.The Senators 9-5-1 record may be proof that playing good defense is more important than scoring goals. The Flyers (7-7-2) are tied for third in the NHL in goals per game (3.31).Senators captain Erik Karlsson, who leads the team with 13 points, said he and his teammates need to find a way to fight through their offensive struggles. Ottawa has gone nine consecutive games scoring two or fewer goals.Its tight right now, Karlsson said. Its a stretch that were going through, and were going to have to find a way to get through that. Its tough for our offensive players, myself included. But were all professionals. Well find a way eventually. The sooner the better.Despite their offensive woes, Ottawa has picked up points in three straight games (2-0-1) and is coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.Craig Anderson (7-3-1, 2.15 goals-against average, .934 save percentage) has been solid between the pipes for the Senators, and Andrew Hammond is back healthy after an injury. With backup Mike Condon also in the fold, Hammond could be sent to the AHL for a short conditioning stint.The Flyers, meanwhile, are dealing with some goaltending woes. Michal Neuvirth (4-2-0, 3.54 GAA, .859 SP) will be sidelined four to six weeks with aa lower-body injury sustained in the Flyers 3-2 win over the Wild on Saturday night.ddddddddddddSteve Mason (3-5-2, 3.41 GAA, .880) has struggled through most of this season, though he stopped 19 of 20 shots in relief of Neuvirth on Saturday to earn the win.I hope it continues to boost his confidence, Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said of Mason. But Mase has nothing to be embarrassed about. He shows up and he battles hard every day. Things might not have gone as well as he would have liked early on, but thats the game. When one part of the team isnt going great, every other part has to pick that piece up a little bit.With Neuvirth sidelined, the Flyers recalled rookie Anthony Stolarz from AHL Lehigh Valley, but look for Mason to make at least the next three starts. Philadelphia is in the midst of a four-game homestand that continues with games Thursday night against the Winnipeg Jets and Saturday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Lightning.Stolarz, a second-round pick of the Flyers in 2012, could make his first NHL start next week in Florida when the Flyers play back-to-back nights against the Panthers and Lightning. He is 6-2-0 this season with the AHL Phantoms.Flyers leading goal scorer Wayne Simmonds (eight goals) took a maintenance day Monday but is expected to be back on the top line against the Senators.Ottawa defenseman Marc Methot, who left the Sunday night game with a lower-body injury, practiced Monday and is expected to play. ' ' '