Captain (ice hockey)
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In ice hockey each team has a designated captain. In NHL rules the sole official duty of a captain is to be the only player who is allowed to talk with referees about rule interpretations or poor calls.
The more important role of the captain, however, is team leadership. In hockey team cohesion is essential for success and along with the coach the captain plays an integral role in this. The team captain must motivate other players, resolve disputes, help integrate new team mates, educate younger players and many other tasks.
There are two methods of choosing a team captain. In most teams it is a selection by the team management and coaching staff. In some teams, however, the captain is chosen by a vote among the players.
Captains are usually veterans with some years of play. Captains are also almost always some of the most skilled players and low scoring players rarely become team captains.
Making a poor decision as to the teams captain can often hurt a team and the player. Being a team captain is a heavy mental burden. An example of a poor choice of captain was the decision to make Vincent Lecavalier when still a very young player, many felt that the decision severely harmed his play until the responsibilities were removed after two years.
Teams also have up to two assistant or alternate captains. They fill in when the captain is injured or absent, and perform many of the same leadership and team building roles as the actual captain. The assistant captains wear an A on their jerseys.
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See also
Historical Lists
NHL
- List of Edmonton Oilers captains
- List of Montreal Canadiens captains
- List of Ottawa Senators captains
- List of Toronto Maple Leafs captains
- List of Calgary Flames captains
- List of Vancouver Canucks captains