Atlanta Thrashers name Andrew Ladd captain
In school, earning an ‘A’ grade for your efforts puts you at the head of the class. But in the National Hockey League, a strong effort and good leadership skills earn you a ‘C’.
On Thursday 18 November, the Atlanta Thrashers officially named left-winger Andrew Ladd as the eighth captain in the history of the franchise. The team also named defencemen Tobias Enstrom
and Dustin Byfuglien as alternate captains.
“Andrew has earned this distinction with a high level of commitment to his play and to his teammates,” Thrashers head coach Craig Ramsay told the Thrashers’ official website. “Along with
Andrew, Dustin and Toby have set the tone for our club with their on-ice leadership and deserve this opportunity.”
The Thrashers have been without a captain since left-winger Ilya Kovalchuk was shipped off to the New Jersey Devils at the trade deadline last season. As is the case with all NHL teams
who do not have a full-time captain, Atlanta had used three alternate captains up until this point.
“It’s a huge honour for the coaching staff to have the confidence in me to lead this team,” Ladd told the
Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to do that.”
Ramsay said that although he did not know who he was going to choose as the new captain at the beginning of the season, Ladd’s strong play and leadership skills helped influence his decision.
“It’s an enormous responsibility, but he’s well respected,” Ramsay said. “He has stepped up his commitment to himself to make sure he’s ready to play every night and his commitment to
the team has been so evident. He’s earned that. I didn’t know who to pick at the start of the season, and he’s earned that opportunity.”
The 24-year-old native of Maple Ridge, British Columbia becomes the youngest player to serves as captain for the Thrashers. Ladd currently leads the Thrashers in scoring with seven goals
and 11 assists for 18 points. In 340 games, he has amassed a total of 70 goals and 97 assists for 167 total points.
Ladd and alternate captain Byfuglien are two of several players who were traded to Atlanta after winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks last season.
The Thrashers will play their next game on Friday 19 November, when they will host the Washington Capitals.
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