Kovalchuk Named New Thrashers Captain
January 13, 2009 by Jeanne Dupuis
Filed under Atlanta Thrashers, Fan Fare, NHL, News, Players
Ilya Kovalchuk has been named the new captain of the Atlanta Thrashers. 
The team had been without a captain for the first half of the season.
The 25-year-old is the club’s seventh captain but he will also be just the “fifth Russian-born and trained player in NHL history to become a team captain.”
He has been an alternate for the past two seasons alongside Colby Armstrong, Niclas Havelid, Slava Kozlov and Mathieu Schneider.
"Ilya has earned the opportunity to take a larger leadership role on this team and has grown into this position over his six-plus seasons as a member of the Thrashers," said executive vice president Don Waddell. "We’re very pleased, and excited for Ilya, that his fellow alternate captains approached us and felt he should be given the responsibility at this time. We’re confident that he’ll embrace it and represent the organization and his teammates appropriately."
So far, this season, Kovy has 15 goals and 27 assists in 42 games. He also is the club’s all-time franchise leader in games played (508), points (508), goals (269) and assists (239).
I think this is the choice that makes the most sense. Congrats, Kovy!
image: TSN
