SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Mike Ricci will be the San Jose Sharks
captain for the season's first 10 games under coach Ron Wilson's
new plan to rotate the job.
Wilson decided to copy Minnesota's successful scheme of
periodically choosing a captain during the season from a pool of
candidates his players select. Ricci, a popular veteran forward and
longtime alternate captain, was Wilson's first choice.
``It's an honor any time you get to wear the ``C'' in this
league,'' Ricci said. ``We have 23 leaders on this team, and anyone
could be asked to wear it.''
Owen Nolan, San Jose's captain since 1998 and the franchise's
career scoring leader, was traded to Toronto last March. Ricci is
just the sixth captain in Sharks history.
Vincent Damphousse and Scott Hannan will begin the season as San
Jose's alternate captains. Damphousse has worn the ``A'' for
several seasons, while Hannan is being given his first leadership
role.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)