HUMBOLDT — Due to his team’s history and potential, Doug Scott is honoured to be the Humboldt Broncos’ newest captain.
“This team has such a rich history of championship winning teams,” said the 20-year-old defenceman from North Vancouver. “I want to be part of the next long line of successful Broncos hockey. Hopefully we can be the team to hoist the championship at the end of season.
“Also, it's incredibly meaningful to me to be the captain of this team. We want to do everything we can to honour the 29 victims of the tragedy two and a half years ago and ultimately winning the Canalta Cup is our goal. To do that and share that with everyone impacted would be very special.”
While announcing Scott as its captain last week, the Broncos also unveiled that their assistant captains would be: 19-year-old defenceman Kade Olsen from Saskatoon and forwards Reid Arnold, a 20-year-old from Yorkton; Calgary’s Luke Spadafora, who is in his 20-year-old season; and 19-year-old Braiden Koran of Kimberley, B.C.
“[We] have lots of leaders on our team,” Scott said. “Arnold and Olsen are both going into their third season on the team and provide tons of leadership to the team, so we feed off each other.”
Arnold, in his second season wearing an “A,” said it is a huge honour to be part of the leadership group again.
“We have a great group of guys here that can do something special this year,” he said. “Everyone is eager to get going and show the league what we have and what we can do this year. We have a great core of leaders in this room that are all committed to bringing a winning mentality to our team.”
Last season’s squad was captained by Graysen Cameron. He survived the 2018 Broncos bus crash that claimed 16 lives. Cameron returned to the team last season after a year away from playing hockey.
“Following in the footsteps of Graysen is obviously going to be very tough to do because he had such a great presence in our room and great leadership qualities. I only hope to bring to our locker room what he brought everyday,” said Scott, who joined the team partway through last season and had a big impact on its young defence.
Scott believes he can best lead the Broncos by setting a good example. “I think my work ethic is the best part quality for me,” he said. “I always try to be the hardest worker on and off the ice. I also think just being myself will work just fine as well, bringing a positive mindset to the rink each day and trying to be the most supportive teammate I can be.”
In an interview last Friday, Scott expressed excitement about playing in the team’s first exhibition game the following day after what he described as “a long, hard two months of training camp.” He said he was “prepared to give it everything I have this season.”
“We have a really good group of guys here and all get along really well,” Scott said. “We are going to have a very entertaining team on the ice at the EPA (Elgar Petersen Arena) and winning games for some of the most passionate fans in the league will be a great way to finish off my junior hockey career.”