The American Hockey League affiliate of the Calgary Flames, the Calgary Wranglers, has announced their leadership group for the coming season. Brett Sutter has been named team captain, with Matthew Phillips and Nick DeSimone his alternate captains.

The 35-year-old Sutter has been widely speculated as being the captain-in-waiting, probably because he’s on an AHL contract and served as captain for the AHL’s Ontario Reign for five seasons (and for three seasons with the Charlotte Checkers earlier in his career). He was really effective in Flames camp and if you want to have somebody role model behaviours for the up-and-comers in the organization, it’s hard to think of somebody better.

Sutter’s alternates are a pair of reliable and effective players.

Phillips, 24, is a Calgary kid who starred in the WHL with Victoria and has been a very good scorer for the Flames organization in the AHL, too. He captained the Royals in his 19-year-old season and was an alternate for the Stockton Heat last season.

DeSimone, 27, was Mr. Reliable on the back end for the Heat last season, playing all 68 games and providing rock-solid minutes and leadership from the blueline. He previously wore a letter with the San Jose Barracuda prior to joining the Flames organization.

The Wranglers begin their regular season on Sunday afternoon when they host the Coachella Valley Firebirds at the Saddledome.