For the first few weeks of the season, the Comox Valley Glacier Kings did not have a captain and played with only one assistant captain. Before the season started head coach/GM Curtis Toneff said he was going to take his time and make sure his decision was the right decision. He wanted to see how things played out. The leaders will rise to the top in the dressing room and on the ice. It was also a chance to gauge the maturity levels of the possible candidates. The decision was made after the Campbell River game last weekend and now the club has a full compliment of “C’s” and “A’s”.

Curtis told me a month ago that in past years he would get excited in the offseason to name the players receiving letters right away. He also said that he has matured as a coach and patience to make the correct decision was paramount. I asked him yesterday about the process in making the decisions, “There was a lot of observing. Just over a week ago, Monday I think, we took a vote (the players). The votes didn’t necessarily fix the letters, I just wanted to see for myself. There wasn’t really one guy running away with one C or A. So it’s kind of interesting to take a look at it. Brad (Smith), myself and Jackson (Garrett) discussed it, even got Marsha’s (Webb) opinion as well. She’s been around and has owned the team a long time. The Webb’s have owned this team a long time for a reason. I took their opinions into consideration but at the end of the day it was my call.” First of all I want to say sorry Marsha. I know from past years that she hates when I mention her name in my blogs lol. I only do it because I love you. So who did the coach end up deciding on? Here’s what he had to say…

Kyle Mayenburg (C)
“We think he has a great presence, his effort, his attitude and to be honest, even his posture kind of speaks for itself. The kind of guy that has a firm handshake, looks at you straight in the eye, doesn’t say too much but also doesn’t say too little. He works hard everyday.”
Zaya Morro (A)
“Zaya Morrow is the kind of guy that calms us all down., maybe including myself. In sudden moments, he is a very good communicator with the refs. He plays hard every night.”
Isaac Dunsire (A)
“I challenged the team the other night to play for the logo and not themselves. Dunsire, to me, is a guy that cares more about the team than himself through and through. He very badly wants to win every night, works hard everyday and is a good person.”
Haden Parker (A)
“Haden Parker got some ‘C’ votes. It’s been really cool to watch him progress over the last year since I’ve been here. Seems like he’s really been enjoying playing the game. He’s been a bit of a rock back there (on defence) in my opinion for us. He’s got a great stick , hard to get around, he’s upped his ‘compete level’ from the end of last year.”

Just because certain players were not chosen for a letter doesn’t mean they aren’t leaders in their own right. Every player and goaltender has to hold themself accountable for their play on the ice as well as how they carry themselves off the ice including in the dressing room and in public. Toneff did say other players deserved some recognition as well, “Some other guys round out the leadership group, they might not wear an ‘A’ but Landen May, Cohen Kallin and Tegan Clayton will all be part of it as well.” The selections seem solid but that certainly doesn’t diminish anyone’s role on the team that weren’t chosen.

That’s it for this post. Stay tuned as my next post is going to include a lot of team stats as well as the coaches opinion on newly named assistant captain Zaya Morro who is off to a terrific start on a team that struggles to score goals. Have a good Wednesday.

Darryl Skender