The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league composed of 32 teams, founded in 1936. Each team may select a captain, who has the "privilege of discussing with the referee any questions relating to interpretation of rules which may arise during the progress of a game."[1] Each team is also permitted to select alternate captains, who serve when the captain is not on the ice.[1] Captains are required to wear the letter "C" on their uniform for identification while alternate captains wear the letter "A"; both letters are 3 inches (7.6 cm) in height.
Rule 6.2 of the 2024–25 Official AHL Rulebook indicates that "[only] when the captain is not in uniform, the coach shall have the right to designate three alternate captains. This must be done prior to the start of the game."[1] Many AHL teams with a named captain select more than two alternate captains and rotate the "A"s among these players throughout the season.
Goaltenders are not permitted to serve as captains during games.[1] This rule follows that which was instituted in the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1948 after teams complained that it took Montreal Canadiens goaltender Bill Durnan too long to skate to talk with the officials and back to his crease.[2] As a result, no goalie has ever served as captain of an AHL team.
Key
edit† Spent entire AHL career with team
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| C | Centre |
| LW | Left wing |
| RW | Right wing |
| D | Defenceman |
Captains
editThirty-one of the thirty-two AHL teams currently have a captain. The sole team without a captain is the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Of the thirty-one captains, three of them have been with their team for their entire career. The longest-tenured captain in the league is Zac Dalpe of the Charlotte Checkers, who has served in that role since October 14, 2021.
- ^ Most recent captain, Taylor Fedun, left as a free agent following the 2023–24 season.
Alternate captains
editAll thirty-two AHL teams have named at least the regulation two alternate captains. Of the ninety-six alternate captains, thirty-one of them have been with their team for their entire career. Teams that have named more than the regulation two alternate captains (or three in the case of teams without a captain) are required to rotate the two (or three) "A"s between those players by methods of their choosing. The current longest-tenured alternate captain in the league is Daniel Walcott of the Syracuse Crunch, who has served in that role since 2017.
References
edit- ^ a b c d "2023–24 AHL Rule Book". theahl.com. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- ^ "Luongo sports captain's 'C' on goalie mask". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. October 5, 2008. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
- ^ "Chase Wouters named first captain in Abbotsford Canucks history". CanucksArmy. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
- ^ "GRIFFITH NAMED CAPTAIN OF THE CONDORS – BakersfieldCondors.com". Retrieved 2024-11-27.
- ^ Foot, David (2024-10-08). "Belleville Sens name Garrett Pilon sixth captain in franchise history and announce 2024-25 leadership". Belleville Sens. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ Page, Matthew (2024-10-12). "Bridgeport Islanders Name Forward Cole Bardreau Captain Ahead of Season Opener". The Hockey News New York Islanders News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
- ^ Pollock, Riley (2024-11-05). "Wranglers Announce Leadership Group For 2024-25 Season". Calgary Wranglers. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
- ^ "Elite Prospects – Team Captains of Charlotte Checkers". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ "Elite Prospects - Team Captains of Chicago Wolves". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
- ^ Monsters, Cleveland. "Monsters announce 2024-25 leadership group | Cleveland Monsters". www.clevelandmonsters.com. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
- ^ Arredondo, Bailey (2022-10-16). "Firebirds win first ever game over Calgary, assign team captains and roster spots". KESQ. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ^ 5.6K views · 203 reactions | Jayson Megna Returns | The secret’s out…Jayson Megna is your captain for the 2024-25 season! #EaglesCountry | By Colorado Eagles | Facebook. Retrieved 2024-10-09 – via www.facebook.com.
- ^ Kuehl, Tyler (2023-10-27). "Griffins name Josiah Didier as 18th captain in franchise history". mlive. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
- ^ "New York Rangers AHL affiliate team has officially revealed who will be the 15th captain of the Wolf Pack". NYRangersInsider. 2024-11-06. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "Jake Bischoff Named Captain of Silver Knights". Henderson Silver Knights. October 12, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ "Hershey Bears Name Aaron Ness Captain". October 23, 2024. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ Wild, Iowa. "IOWA WILD NAMES CAPTAINS FOR 2024-25 SEASON | Iowa Wild". www.iowawild.com. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
- ^ "Lucas Condotta named captain of the Laval Rocket – Rocket Laval". 2024-10-11. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
- ^ Rotruck, Bob (2023-10-13). "Garrett Wilson Named Phantoms Captain". Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ "Moose Name Dominic Toninato Team Captain". Manitoba Moose. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ "Gravel Named Admirals Captain". OurSports Central. 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "Joe Hicketts Named Captain of the Ontario Reign". Ontario Reign. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
- ^ Bruins, Providence. "PROVIDENCE BRUINS NAME PATRICK BROWN 27TH CAPTAIN IN TEAM HISTORY | Providence Bruins". www.providencebruins.com. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
- ^ Americans, Rochester. "AMERKS ANNOUNCE 2024-25 LEADERSHIP GROUP | Rochester Americans". www.amerks.com. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
- ^ "Brett Seney Named IceHogs Team Captain". Rockford IceHogs. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
- ^ Carter, Ivan (2024-10-19). "Gulls rally late, but fall to Coachella Valley in home opener". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
- ^ Rooney, Brendan (2023-10-15). "Springfield Thunderbirds drop home opener to Hartford". masslive. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "Elite Prospects – Team Captains of Syracuse Crunch". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ "Stars Name Curtis McKenzie Captain, Alex Petrovic and Andreas Borgman as Alternate Captains". oursportscentral.com. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
- ^ "Toronto Marlies Announce 10th Captain In Franchise History – Toronto Marlies". Retrieved 2022-12-13.
- ^ Clemens, Chase (2024-10-11). "AUSTIN POGANSKI NAMED ROADRUNNERS CAPTAIN". TucsonRoadrunners.com. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
- ^ "Elite Prospects – Team Captains of Utica Comets". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.