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 2023–24 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
† Spent entire AHL career with team
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| C | Centre |
| LW | Left wing |
| RW | Right wing |
| D | Defenceman |
Captains
Thirty of the thirty-two AHL teams currently have a captain. The two teams without a captain are the Providence Bruins and the Rockford IceHogs. Of the thirty captains, three of them have been with their team for their entire career. The longest-tenured captain in the league is Seth Helgeson of the Bridgeport Islanders who has served in that role since January 31, 2021.
- ^ Most recent captain, Josiah Didier, left as a free agent following the 2022-23 AHL season and signed with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
- ^ Most recent captain, Garrett Mitchell, retired at the end of the 2022-23 AHL season.
Alternate captains
Thirty of the thirty-two AHL teams have named at least the regulation two alternate captains (the two exceptions being the Colorado Eagles and the Syracuse Crunch). Of the ninety-four alternate captains, eighteen 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
- ^ 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.
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"https://twitter.com/Condors/status/1357749791472508931?lang=en". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-10-09.
{{ cite web}}: External link in|title= - ^ Miller, Jack. "B-Sens name Hetherington captain". Quinte News. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
- ^ Islanders, Bridgeport. "Helgeson Sets Bridgeport Record | Bridgeport Islanders". www.bridgeportislanders.com. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ "Wranglers name Brett Sutter captain, Matthew Phillips and Nick DeSimone alternates". FlamesNation. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
- ^ "Elite Prospects – Team Captains of Charlotte Checkers". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ Collins, Dillon (2024-02-13). "NHL Veteran Chris Terry Named Sixteenth Captain in Chicago Wolves History". The Hockey News American Hockey League. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ^ Turk, Natalie (2023-10-13). "Monsters announce team captains for 2023-24 season". NEO Sports Insiders. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Arredondo, Bailey (2022-10-16). "Firebirds win first ever game over Calgary, assign team captains and roster spots". KESQ. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ^ "Brad Hunt has been named captain of the Colorado Eagles". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-09-12.
- ^ Kuehl, Tyler (2023-10-27). "Griffins name Josiah Didier as 18th captain in franchise history". mlive. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
- ^ "Elite Prospects – Team Captains of Hartford Wolf Pack". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ "Jake Bischoff Named Captain of Silver Knights". Henderson Silver Knights. October 12, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ "Bears Name Dylan McIlrath 45th Captain in Team History | NEWS | Hershey Bears Hockey". www.hersheybears.com. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
- ^ Wild, Iowa. "IOWA WILD ANNOUNCES DAKOTA MERMIS AS CAPTAIN | Iowa Wild". www.iowawild.com. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- ^ "GABRIEL BOURQUE OFFICIALLY NAMED CAPTAIN OF THE LAVAL ROCKET – Rocket Laval". 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Rotruck, Bob (2023-10-13). "Garrett Wilson Named Phantoms Captain". Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ "Elite Prospects – Team Captains of Manitoba Moose". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ "Gravel Named Admirals Captain". OurSports Central. 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "Ontario Reign: TJ Tynan Named Team Captain". Yardbarker. 2022-10-14. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
- ^ "Elite Prospects – Team Captains of Rochester Americans". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ Gulls, San Diego. "PREVIEW: Gulls Seek To Continue Their Good Start Against Griffins | San Diego Gulls". www.sandiegogulls.com. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ^ Barracuda, San Jose. "BARRACUDA NAME RADIM SIMEK AS TEAM'S CAPTAIN | San Jose Barracuda". www.sjbarracuda.com. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Schoepke, Cole (2023-10-14). "Game #1: Tucson Roadrunners (3) @ Texas Stars (2)". TucsonRoadrunners.com. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
- ^ "Elite Prospects – Team Captains of Utica Comets". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ "Elite Prospects – Team Captains of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.