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Tavares to have number retired by junior team

Colorado Avalanche v New York Islanders

UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 08: John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders gets congratulated on scoring a goal during an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on February 8, 2014 in Uniondale, New York. Colorado won 5-2. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

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New York Islanders star John Tavares is receiving an honor that puts him in some special company.

The Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League announced they will retire Tavares’ No. 91 in a ceremony on Sept. 28. He’ll be the fourth player to have his number retired by the team and he’ll have his banner alongside those of Bobby Orr, Eric Lindros, and Red Tilson. As you might expect, Tavares is humbled by it all as Cory Wright at the Islanders’ website shared.

“To be up there with the three other guys that are there … it’s hard to really believe it,” Tavares said. “It’s something I’ll be pinching myself about for a long time. I really appreciate that people believe that I am a part of such a great history like that.”

During his three-and-a-half seasons in Oshawa, Tavares piled up monster numbers. In 223 games he scored 183 goals and had 383 points. He’s first all-time in Oshawa history in goals and second in points to Marc Savard.

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