The Estevan Bruins filled their vacant captaincy not long before their season opener on Thursday, selecting Tanner Froese to wear the C.
The right winger from Estevan is entering his third and final season with the team.
"The captain was a no-brainer for me. I just felt the guy has led so well right from Day 1 and the boys gravitate to him. He's one of those guys who isn't trying to be a leader, he just is, and that was easy," said Bruins head coach Chris Lewgood.
"We saw that right from the conditioning camp we had in the summertime. He was our most fit player in fitness testing. The leadership was there right from the start so we knew it would carry over on the ice."
The alternate captains are left winger Austin Daae, centre Hudson Morrison and defenceman David Robertson.
"The assistants were all guys we felt were easy choices. Where it becomes tough is leaving other guys out, and we actually considered splitting letters and things like that because we've got some other leaders in the room, guys that are very positive and can fit that responsibility. But we decided these are the guys and I'm pretty sure the guys in the room would back us up on that," Lewgood added.
Froese, who is off to a red-hot start with four goals and two assists in his first two games entering last night's contest against Melfort, said it's "a pretty big privilege" to wear the C for his hometown team.
"It means a lot to me. It's pretty special. I've been watching hockey here my whole life and now I'm playing for them and wearing the C, so it's a pretty big honour."
Froese is coming off a season that saw him tally 13 goals and 27 points, after recording 15 goals and 19 points as a rookie.
