Captain (ice hockey)
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In ice hockey each team has a designated captain, who wears a "C" on his jersey.
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[edit] Responsibilities and importance
According to National Hockey League (NHL) rules, the captain is to be the only player who is allowed to talk with referees about rule interpretations. Goaltenders may not be designated as captains or alternate captains because of the logistical challenges of having the goaltender relay rules discussions between referees and coaches and then return to the crease. The last goaltender who served as team captain was Bill Durnan of the Montreal Canadiens in the 1947-1948 season.
Although the rules do not specify any other distinction between the captain and his teammates, he has numerous responsibilities to the team. The captain is expected to be a locker room leader and is often considered the primary representative of his team to the public. The captain also represents the players' concerns to management and sometimes is responsible for organizing the team's social functions.
Captains are selected by team management; some teams hold a vote among the players to choose the team's captain. Captains are usually veteran players, though younger players are sometimes appointed to the captaincy. The selection is often seen as an important moment for a team, and one that can affect the team's (and newly appointed captain's) performance.
The "C" is an important part of hockey, carrying with it significant honorary responsibilities to provide leadership and guidance to the other players, to be a liaison between the team and management for hockey-related matters, and to act as the representative of the team's players to the public.
NHL teams need not designate the same player as captain from game to game, though most teams do. Some teams name two (co-captains) or three (tri-captains) captains for a season. Some teams rotate captains rather than keep one for an extended period of time.
[edit] Alternate captains
Teams may also designate alternate captains, who are sometimes referred to erroneously as "assistant captains". Alternate captains wear the letter A on their jerseys in the same manner that team captains wear the C. In the NHL, teams may appoint two alternate captains if they also have appointed a captain, or they may choose to appoint three alternate captains and no captain.[1] Teams need not appoint the same players as alternate captains from game to game, though they generally do. International rules stipulate that "each team shall appoint a Captain and no more than two Alternate Captains."[2] When the captain is not on the ice, any alternate captain on the ice may fulfill the captain's official role as liaison to the referees. Alternate captains perform many of the same leadership and team building roles as the captain.
[edit] Lists of current captains
- NHL captains & alternate captains (National Hockey League)
- AHL captains (American Hockey League)
- OHL captains (Ontario Hockey League)
- WHL captains (Western Hockey League)
- QMJHL captains (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)
