Congratulations to Roberto Luongo, who has just been named captain of the Vancouver Canucks.
There's just one problem.
NHL Rule 14D states that “[n]o playing Coach or playing Manager or goalkeeper shall be permitted to act as Captain or Alternate Captain.”
The Canucks have thought of a solution though. Willie Mitchell will handle all of the captain's duties on ice—things like those little chats with the referee.
Those little chats are exactly why Rule 14D was created.
Before Luongo, there were only five other goalies to captain a team. More on that in a moment.
Back in the 1920s, the NHL wanted to make games more time efficient. Therefore, the NHL decreed that each team must designate a single player to talk to referees. The only problem was that if the captain wasn't on the ice, his team couldn't talk to the referee. Obviously, that didn't make a lot of coaches happy.
Thus, the first goalie captain was born. In 1923, John Ross Roach, aka “Little Napoleon,” was appointed captain of the Toronto St. Patricks by coach Eddie Powers. Based on his nickname, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess Roach wasn't a really popular guy with anyone.
Four more goalies soon followed suit—Roy “Shrimp” Worters, George Hainsworth, Alec “Fireman” Connell, and Charlie Gardiner. Gardiner was Chicago's captain when they won the Stanley Cup in 1934, and was the only goalie-captain to do so.
The last goalie to become captain was Montreal goalie Bill Durnan. He became captain in 1947-48 and he's the reason for Rule 14D. He spent so much time talking to refs that games actually got longer!
Also, that was the only season in Durnan's career that he didn't lead the league in goals-against average, and the only time he wasn't chosen for the All-Star game. He didn't win the Vezina trophy either—and as the final insult, Montreal didn't make the playoffs (also the only time in his career).
Good thing Willie Mitchell will handle all on-ice duties, huh?
As a seasoned hockey enthusiast with a deep understanding of the sport's history and intricacies, it's evident that the appointment of a goalie, Roberto Luongo, as the captain of the Vancouver Canucks is a unique and somewhat controversial move, given the restrictions outlined in NHL Rule 14D. This rule explicitly prohibits playing coaches, playing managers, or goalkeepers from acting as a captain or alternate captain on the ice.
Now, the Canucks' creative solution to this issue, delegating on-ice captain duties to Willie Mitchell, is a clever workaround. Mitchell will be responsible for tasks such as communicating with referees during games—a role typically undertaken by the team captain.
To appreciate the significance of this situation, it's crucial to delve into the historical context that led to the creation of Rule 14D. In the 1920s, the NHL aimed to enhance the efficiency of games, prompting the decree that each team must designate a single player to communicate with referees. However, if the captain was not on the ice, the team faced a communication gap with the referee. This dilemma prompted the emergence of goalie captains.
The first goalie to assume the role of captain was John Ross Roach, also known as "Little Napoleon," appointed as captain of the Toronto St. Patricks in 1923. Subsequently, four more goalies—Roy "Shrimp" Worters, George Hainsworth, Alec "Fireman" Connell, and Charlie Gardiner—followed suit. Notably, Gardiner was the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks when they won the Stanley Cup in 1934, making him the only goalie-captain to achieve this feat.
The historical narrative takes an interesting turn with Montreal goalie Bill Durnan, who became captain in the 1947-48 season. Durnan's extensive communication with referees during games led to longer match durations, contributing to the implementation of Rule 14D. That season marked the only time in Durnan's career that he did not lead the league in goals-against average, was not selected for the All-Star game, and failed to secure the Vezina trophy. Additionally, Montreal did not make the playoffs—a rare occurrence in Durnan's career.
In the contemporary context, the Canucks' decision to designate Willie Mitchell to handle on-ice duties alleviates concerns about a potential repetition of the issues faced by Bill Durnan. This strategic move ensures that Luongo can fulfill the leadership role off the ice without compromising the team's on-ice communication with referees.
