Remembering a lost member of a team is important, both for the team itself and the families impacted by the loss. While dealing with grief and loss is personal, teams often come together and choose to memorialize friends and teammates by wearing a commemorative patch in that person's honor. Perhaps they gain strength from the reminder; perhaps they want to ensure that fans and those around them remember those lost.

Paul Lukas of UniWatch has compiled images of memorial patches, from the Toronto Maple Leafs' King Clancy patch to the Montreal Expos' #9 patch to honor Maurice "The Rocket" Richard--the only known cross-sport commemorative patch for an individual. As Lukas puts it, "It tells you everything you need to know about the relative status of baseball and hockey in Montreal."

I did a little digging of my own, and came across one to share with you: St. Cloud State's 2003-04 patch worn to honor the great Herb Brooks.

The Capitals wore the Bulldog patch in 1996-97 to honor scout Jack Button, but they are not alone; here are more examples of NHL teams remembering the ones they'd lost:

• Toronto Maple Leafs 1990 Team owner Harold Ballard


• Pittcburgh Penguins 1991-92 Former coach "Badger" Bob Johnson


• Anaheim Mighty Ducks 1994 Walt Disney president Frank Wells


• Ottawa Senators 1995 Local broadcaster Brian Smith


• Los Angeles Kings 2001-02 Ace Bailey and Mark Bavis, who were killed in the 9/11 attacks


• San Jose Sharks 2007 Goaltending coach Warren Strelow