What Is An Alternate Captain In Ice Hockey? Definition & Meaning | SportsLingo (2024)

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What Is An Alternate Captain In Ice Hockey? Definition & Meaning | SportsLingo (1)

What Is The Definition Of Alternate Captain In Ice Hockey?

1. An alternate captain is a chosen team member who plays a supporting role to the team captain. The alternate captain acts as the captain when the main captain is on the bench, injured, or serving penalty time.

Alternate captains wear a distinguishable “A” on the upper left part of their jersey.

What Is The Purpose Of An Alternate Captain?

The alternate captain assumes the responsibility of the main captain if he/she cannot complete their responsibilities while on the bench, injured, or in the penalty box. During these times, it is the alternate captain’s job to speak to the referees, share the coach’s messages with other team members, and set a positive example on and off the ice.

What Do The “A” And “C” Stand For On Hockey Jerseys?

The “A” on a hockey player’s jersey distinguishes that player as an alternate team captain. The “C” on a hockey player’s jersey identifies that player as the main team captain.

How Many Alternate Captains Can A Hockey Team Have?

An ice hockey team can have two alternate captains if there is already one team captain. If the team captain is unable to dress in uniform for a match or the captain has not been named, the team can have up to three alternate captains. They may be rotated throughout the season.

Example Of How Alternate Captain Is Used In Commentary

1. Johnny Bucyk, the alternate captain of the Boston Bruins during their 1970 and 1972 NHL title seasons, was the first member of the team to be presented with the Stanley Cup.

Sport The Term Is Used

1. Ice Hockey

Also Seen As:

1. Assistant captain

Abbreviated As:

1. A

What Is An Alternate Captain In Ice Hockey? Definition & Meaning | SportsLingo (2024)

FAQs

What is an alternate captain in hockey? ›

When the captain is off the ice or unavailable for the game, any alternate captain on the ice is responsible for fulfilling the captain's official role as liaison to the referees. NHL teams may choose alternate captains from game to game or appoint regular alternate captains for the season.

What is the difference between alternate and assistant? ›

While the words “alternate” (someone who takes the place of someone) and “assistant” (someone who helps someone) clearly have different meanings, to hockey players, they're synonyms.

How many alternates are on a hockey team? ›

Each team may only have a maximum of three (3) alternate players on the roster, exclusive of goalies.

Can a goalie be an alternate captain in hockey? ›

Rule Reference 202(a). There is no rule preventing a goalkeeper from being named a Captain or Alternate Captain as an honor by the team to show leadership. However, that goalkeeper may not exercise Captain's privileges during a game.

Can an NHL team have 3 alternate captains? ›

Rule 6.2 of the 2008–09 Official NHL 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."

Why don't the Kraken have a captain? ›

Less than six months later, the Kraken traded Giordano to Toronto. They've been captainless since. Unlike many other sports, where team leadership is more nebulous, the roles of captains and alternate captains are written into the NHL rule book.

What is the difference between alternate and alternate? ›

'Alternative' means there are two (although some writers now use 'alternatives' for more than two) choices. 'Alternate' is the act of going between these choices, states or actions.

What is the difference between alternative and alternate? ›

Although both can refer to a different or backup option, typically alternate refers to an action of rotating or taking turns while alternative usually refers to another option or choice.

What is the difference between assist and assistant? ›

Understanding the Basics: Definitions and Differences

Assistance: A non-countable noun that defines help or aid provided in the form of money, resources, or information to others. Assistants: A countable noun referring to people who provide help or aid, taking on various roles depending on their workplace.

What does g mean in hockey? ›

G. Goals. A goal is awarded to the last player on the scoring team to touch the puck prior to the puck entering the net.

Who is the longest active NHL captain? ›

The shortest tenured captain is Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund (Sept. 27, 2023), while the longest tenured is Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby (May 31, 2007).

Why do some NHL teams not have captains? ›

There are different reasons for those teams choosing to operate without a captain: the Ducks, Coyotes, Blackhawks and Flyers all are in the infancy of a full roster rebuild, so there's no impetus to pick out just one player as their focal point for leadership.

What does p mean in hockey? ›

P or PTS – Points – Scoring points, calculated as the sum of G and A. S – Shots on Goal – Total number of shots taken on net in the current season. PN – Penalties – Number of penalties the player has been assessed.

Why can't goalies fight in hockey? ›

No such rule exists, but even the thought of being tossed from an important game and risking the consequences of an injury to your replacement is enough to dissuade goalies from fighting. “There's so much parity in the sport right now that every game matters so much,” Esche said.

What is rule 14D in hockey? ›

The NHL had rule 14D in place, which states: “No playing coach or playing managers or goalkeeper shall be permitted to act as Captain or Alternate Captain.” This was placed in effect in 1948. There were previously five goalies to ever be captain of their teams.

How many captains can you have in hockey? ›

In addition to one team captain, teams are also permitted to select two alternate captains. When the captain is not on the ice, an alternate captain can assume their duties. If the team does not have a captain, they can select up to three alternate captains.

Is Auston Matthews an alternate captain? ›

Auston Taylour Matthews (born September 17, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL).

How many captains can a NHL team have? ›

Teams can have any number of captains for the season. However, each team can only have six captains for each game.

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