The heart wrenching story behind the #17. (Video)

Jaden Schwartz, a name you're going to be hearing a lot over the next few years. He is quickly becoming an indispensable piece for the St. Louis Blues, Schwartz has 21 points in 22 games, and it's no surprise with the constant motivation he carries on his back. Today Jaden wears the #17, but that wasn't always the case, in fact for most of his high level career, including two World Junior Championships Schwartz wore #8. However this year Schwartz changed the number on his back, not for a teammate, and not because he liked #17 better, he did it to honor his sister Mandi. Mandi was Jaden's older sister and a major influence on Jaden's career as a hockey player. In fact Jaden, when speaking with the National Post, says he his first dose of serious hockey from big sister Mandi:

“Mandi was the oldest, so her hockey was more serious. I learned a lot from her."

It's no surprise, Mandi was a talented hockey player in her own right, she was a member of the Yale Bulldogs women's ice hockey team, but Mandi's hockey career was cut short. In December 2008,  her junior year at Yale University,Schwartz was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Mandi being the fighter that she was, battled the disease and for a while it appeared that she had won. However in December 2010, she learned that the cancer had returned, and just a few short months later in April of 2011 Mandi was taken from this world. Taken but certainly not forgotten, Mandi's search for a bone marrow transplant while unsuccessful, resulted in drives being held at Yale University where matches for 6 other patients were found, and today the Mandi Schwartz Foundation continues to do work in her honor. So little brother Jaden decided he would wear Mandi's old number for the 2014-2015 season, his way of paying tribute to the big sister that meant so much to him in hockey and in life. With the number #17 on his back is off to the best year of his career, a fitting tribute to Mandi, and one she would most certainly be proud of if she could see him today. Jaden spoke to the National Post about the change in number:

"With what went on and with what she went through and what she meant to me, this seemed the right thing to do, it’s not something I talk about a whole lot. It’s kind of a hard to talk about. But I think everyone knows how much she meant to me. It’s all for Mandi. I did it because of her. It’s for her because of how much I learned from her. I think of her every day. She’s still an inspiration to me every day.”

I can't help but think Mandi would be moved by Jaden's words, and would be filled with pride seeing her little brother reach the levelsof success he has this season. Here is an incredible tribute to Mandib from University of Regina students Taylor Shire, Sarah Ritchie and Christeen Jesse. Image courtesy the Mandi Schwartz Foundaiton.