The "C'' Alaska Aces defenseman William Wrenn wore on his sweater in Tuesday night's home-ice 3-1 exhibition win over the Missouri Mavericks wasn't just a preseason designation.
The letter is permanently his.
Aces coach Rob Murray said the fourth-year pro from Anchorage will captain the 2015-16 team, which begins the ECHL regular season Friday night at Sullivan Arena with the opener of a three-game set against the Mavericks.
Wrenn, 24, previously captained the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League, and both the U-18 and U-17 teams in USA Hockey's National Team Development Program.
"I like his work ethic, I like the fact that his pedigree points to him as a leader,'' Murray said. "He's going to be a huge part of this team, he's going to be a go-to guy in all situations, and he's respected by his teammates.''
Wrenn began his pro career as a rookie with the Aces in the 2012-13 season, when he earned promotion to the American Hockey League and played 22 games there. He spent the next two seasons with AHL Texas before signing with his hometown club in the offseason.
Wrenn said he figured it was likely he would captain the Aces after he wore the "C'' Tuesday night.
"It's obviously a huge honor, something I don't take lightly,'' Wrenn said.
While Murray on Thursday said he had not finalized which players would wear an "A'' as alternate captains, Wrenn said any team's leadership group ideally extends beyond just two or three players.
"The guys with letters on their jerseys can't be the only leaders,'' Wrenn said.
For instance, assistant coach/defenseman Patrick Wellar, entering his 12th season of pro hockey, will lead even if he doesn't wear a letter. Murray has said he ideally wanted a player other than Wellar to emerge as captain because Wellar already commands authority as an assistant coach and a veteran. Nor does it hurt that Wellar owns four championships, three in the ECHL, including the 2006 Kelly Cup with the Aces, and one in the AHL.
Ideally, a hockey team's captain connects the coaching staff to the dressing room, is a prominent voice for the players, carries himself with professionalism as an example to teammates and deals with the referee. The captain also is charged with keeping players in line and squelching most problems that arise in the dressing room.
Wrenn said the Aces, whose 23-man roster includes eight returners from last season, still are working to solidify their systems. He likes what he sees.
"The effort level is there, and guys are willing to put in the hard work to work on their game and get better,'' Wrenn said.
Shuffling the deck
Center Tim Coffman, who sat out the two exhibition games to prevent aggravating a minor lower-body injury, will be in the opening-night lineup, Murray said.
Coffman, who will center one of the two top lines and get special-teams duties, last season delivered 13-27—40 totals in 48 games. In two seasons with the Aces, he owns 22-40—62 totals in 83 games, with a plus-13 rating.
Returning goaltender Troy Redmann will get the season-opening start, Murray said.
Fifteen of the 23 Aces weren't with the club last season, but three of those players – Wrenn (2012-13), Wellar (2005-07) and winger David Eddy (2013-14) have previously played for the club.
Coffman and winger Justin Breton are the only returners who spent all last season with the club.
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockeyblog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr
?Alaska Aces Captains
2015-16 -- William Wrenn
2014-15 -- Brendan Connolly
2013-14 -- Nick Mazzolini
2012-13 -- Steve Ward
2011-12 -- Brian Swanson
2008-11 -- Scott Burt
2008 -- Matt Shasby*
?2007-08 -- Barrett Heisten*
2006-07 -- Mike Scott
2003-06 -- Keith McCambridge
?* Heisten began 2007-08 season as captain, but repeated concussions prompted his in-season retirement and Shasby was voted captain by teammates.