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Calgary Wranglers to announce second captain in team history
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Photo credit: David Moll/Calgary Wranglers
Paige Siewert
Nov 5, 2024, 07:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 5, 2024, 09:08 EST
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The Calgary Wranglers have a vacancy to fill. After Brett Sutter retired over the summer, a hole was left in the Wranglers’ leadership team. The Flames’ AHL affiliate has played 10 games this season without one but that is set to change on Nov. 5. The team previewed on social media, that their 12th game and beyond will be played with one of their skaters dawning the C.
There are a few ways this could go. With the Wranglers consisting of a healthy mix of top-end prospects, NHL/AHL tweeners, veterans and a couple of rookies sprinkled in, it brings in a lot of personalities with a lot of different styles of play. It seems this decision will lean more towards the more experienced tweeners and veterans.
One thing that has remained consistent is the system. The Mitch Love then Trent Cull systems paired with their leadership groups have worked for this team. Brett Sutter was the first named Captain in team history and it feels like the next person that comes into that role will carry a similar demeanour. 

The vets

The most obvious candidate feels like Clark Bishop. He’s got the most on-ice and off-ice time with Sutter as he was his regular linemate. He also revealed in a recent post-game interview how he’s felt with his old linemate behind the bench. He said,
“It’s good. I became really close with Sutts over the last couple of years. He was my roommate on the road too. I get a couple taps from him on the bench and I know he’s going to be a good coach.”
Who better to pass the torch to? The potential Captain of an AHL team doesn’t also need to be the top scorer, but Bishop has even had that on his side lately. Among their nine game winning streak, he has scored the game-winning goal in the last four straight games. He already has nine points in 10 games and made a good showing for himself in Flames training camp and preseason. He also brings the perspective of NHL play to this team with 47 games played in the NHL between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators. 
Another veteran on the list is Jarred Tinordi. Tinordi is a new addition to the Wranglers this season but not a stranger to the league. Tinordi was a first round draft pick back in 2010 and has played over 200 games in the NHL. He has also played 438 games in his AHL career. His hockey resume also includes leadership positions. Currently, he is a rotating Alternate Captain with the Wranglers.
His most recent run as Captain was for the Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators affiliate), back in 2019-20. He was also Captain the year before and first rocked a lettered jersey for the Tucson Roadrunners (former Arizona Coyotes affiliate) in 2016-16. The only thing that makes you wonder if he’s their guy, is his depth on the blue line. The way that position is stacked, he has had to rotate out of the lineup and very well could continue to do that. 

The tweeners

There are a couple of players who have been put in leadership roles on and off the ice that would make great captains. The thing with the AHL is though, who knows if they’ll be around to stick out the season. If an injury or the right opportunity comes up, you don’t want to lose your captain during critical times in the season. 
Walker Duehr, Jakob Pelletier, Dryden Hunt and Ilya Solovyov all fall into this category. They’re high on that list of Flames reinforcements and Hunt and Pelletier already slot in as Alter
nate Captains on a game by game rotation. Of this list, Dryden Hunt feels the most prepared to take on this role. 
Dryden Hunt has been in the Flames organization for three seasons now and had a pretty even split between the AHL and NHL last season. Hunt is the same age as Bishop and also carries a history of NHL games and recent ones at that. He doesn’t have any recorded history of wearing a letter for his former teams but has been an Alternate Captain for the Wranglers in the opening month of the season. 
Hunt has been playing top line minutes between the first and second line and makes contributions to scoring and the physical side of the game. He has 10 points in 10 games and has really been clicking with Rory Kerins and Jakob Pelletier. This year has shown little sparks of Matthew Tkachuk level energy on the ice as he gets under the skin of his opponents. He would be a physical player to stand up for his team and would also help light the lamp in key moments.
Depending on the Flames’ needs, Hunt might not be the first call-up but even if he is, a split season as Captain would still serve the dynamic of this team, especially with those who would be left behind as Alternate Captains in his potential absence. 

Announcement information

The debate on the second Wranglers Captain in team history won’t be a long one as the announcement is slotted for Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 a.m. MT. The team will be making the announcement across their social media platforms, including X, Instagram, Facebook, and their official website. 
The new Captain will meet with the media after their morning skate and will make his game debut on Tuesday night for their matchup against the Bakersfield Condors at home. 

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