In hockey, there’s arguably no more prestigious team honor of being named a captain or alternate captain. But the “C” or “A” isn’t just a letter sewn into your sweater, it also designates you as one of the leaders of your team – and being a good leader means shouldering a fair amount of responsibility, both on and off the ice.

So how can players grow as great team leaders? Here’s a look:

On the Ice

• Lead by example:

  Captains don’t necessarily have to be the best players on their teams, but they have to set an example for the rest of the team to follow. If you’re one of the better players, you can do this with your skills. If you’re not, you can do this by being a great teammate, working hard and putting the needs of the team above your own.

• Talking with officials:

  Speaking with officials is one of the key on-ice duties of the captains. Stick up for your teammates when a blown – or bad – call is made, make sure you understand calls being made and act as the spokesperson for your team when it comes to working with the refs.

Off the Ice

• Be approachable:

  Your teammates need to know that they can approach you and speak with you about team issues.

• Hold players accountable:

  Just as good leaders praise players when they’re doing well, they need to be able to call out players when they’re not – especially if it’s due to laziness.

• Get hockey smart:

  Become a student of the game. Good leaders study the game and develop that “hockey sense” that coaches yearn for. Knowing the game is an added bonus as you lead and help others learn the game and what it takes to win.

• Don’t get too high or too low:

  Good leaders never get complacent when things are going well or too low when things aren’t. Keeping an even keel, no matter the situation, helps keep other players focused.

Hockey players don’t just transform into the likes of Mark Messier, Steve Yzerman and Jonathan Toews overnight. Leadership takes work. For more information on how we mold young hockey players at Rick Heinz Hockey Schools, contact us to learn more about our hockey schools.