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HELSINKI — Teemu Selanne never wanted to wear No. 8. But it seemed the number always wanted him.

“The thing is, it came to me randomly,” Selanne, whose jersey was retired by the Finnish national team on Wednesday night at the world junior championship. “When I was a little kid, the coach gave the jerseys out and I got the No. 8. Funny thing, eight has always followed me. Our first address was No. 8. My first motorcycle, the plate was UZ8. It’s weird how it works.”

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The Anaheim Ducks retired Selanne’s jersey a year ago. But this was equally — if not more — special for the 45-year-old, who played in six Olympics, five world championships, three World Cup/Canada Cup tournaments.

“The national team has been a very important part in my life and always a happy place,” said Selanne, who is the all-time leading scorer at the Olympics with 43 points. “I had a chance to play 30 years in the national team and I’ve been very proud every time to put that jersey on every time that I played. Tonight was a great honour.”