Friday, October 8, 2010

DOGS HAND OUT THEIR LETTERS

Mike Thomas will once again captain the Saint John Sea Dogs hockey club.

Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant made the announcement today that Thomas will serve his second season as Saint John’s leader. His first stint as captain went pretty well, guiding the Sea Dogs to the President’s Cup Final before losing in six games to the Moncton Wildcats.

Thomas made headlines last year when he became the first New Brunswicker to wear the “C” for the Dogs. He wore the letter for 62 games last season while Ottawa Senators prospect Mike Hoffman wore it for nine games during Thomas’ many suspensions.

The New Maryland native becomes only the second captain to return the following season in franchise history. Alex Grant wore the letter in 2007-08 before returning in 2008-09. Grant, currently in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, was team captain for a total of 113 games during his three-and-a-half years in Saint John.

Thomas has registered 231GP-23G-36A-59P-398PIM for the Sea Dogs since being selected by the club in Round Four (56th Overall) of the 2006 QMJHL Entry Draft.

Gallant also named his alternate captains for the 2010-11 season. Michael Kirkpatrick, Simon Despres, and Kevin Gagne will wear an “A” on their sweater this season.

Kirkpatrick has been wearing the “C” this year with Thomas being away at Oklahoma City Barons training camp. The North Sydney, Nova Scotia native has worn an “A” over the past two seasons, combining for a total of 133 matches.

Despres, who just returned from Pittsburgh Penguins training camp, wore an “A” just once last season.

Gagne, another New Brunswick native, will wear a letter on his jersey for the first time.

Photo Credit: Saint John Sea Dogs

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