When the puck drops on the Langley Rivermen’s 2013/14 B.C. Hockey League season, Mitch McLain will sport the ‘C’ as the team’s captain.
Last year was his first in Langley, and he was an assistant by year’s end.
“It is an honor to come back and lead this team. There are a great group of guys coming back for another season and it means a lot that Coach Bobby, Kurt and the organization feel that I would be a good leader for them,” McLain said.
The Minnesota native had a fantastic rookie season racking up 14 goals, 18 assists for 32 points, but he will be the first to tell you that the only stat he is concerned about is wins and losses.
“My first season with the Rivermen was a very enjoyable one for me. From day one everyone in the organization has been great from the ownership right on down to the guys in the dressing room and that is all you can ask for.”
Rivermen Head Coach and General Manager Bobby Henderson talked about his decision to name McLain the club’s new captain,
“I don’t think there was too much of a decision there at all,” Henderson chuckled, “looking at his play down the stretch and through most of the year he started to merge as a leader. He has all the attributes that we are looking for in a captain and at the end of the day it was a decision that made itself.”
McLain has many qualities that every coach looks for in a player and Henderson was quick to point out a few that stands out,
“His work ethic is one thing that sets him apart of the pack. He brings a great effort to everything he does whether it is a practice or a game. Mitch is an upbeat guy and knows when to keep the mood light and he knows when to focus and bare down. He is just one of those guys that you can’t help but smile when he is at the rink.”
As for next season’s expectations for the new captain, Henderson does not want McLain changing a thing,
“We expect him to pick up right where he left off. I do not think it is fair to put a number on how many points we hope him to get, we just want him to show up and compete like his does every night and his points will come”.
As for McLain, he knows about the responsibilities of wearing the ‘C’ and already knows what kind of captain he wants to be,
“I am a friend. Sometimes you have to delegate and speak up to get the boys going, but honestly I am a friend and I just want the guys to be comfortable around me. As a captain though, my job is to keep everybody on the same page and have the same goal in mind and that is winning a championship,” McLain finished.
