question for NHL fans

[Bertha Venation]

I know what the "C" means, embroidered on a player's jersey.

What's the "A" mean?

Thank you.

[Bleacher Creature]

1. "Captain" and "Assistant Captain"

[Bertha Venation]

2. Hm! Never heard of an assistant captain - thanks!

Captains must do a lot in ice hockey.

[Bleacher Creature]

4. I was wrong, it stands for "Alternate Captain"

In case the Captain is out of the game.

[Dr. Strange]

3. Alternate Captain

A

;-)

[SoxFan]

5. I think they should have a "G" for the designated Goon

The Manchester Monarchs used to have a player named Ryan Flinn. He was about 8 feet tall, a big scary mofo. His sole purpose was to go out and scare the hell out of the opposing team, and perform any field expedient dental work that the situation required. Couldn't play hockey worth crap, but a hell of fighter.

He's playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs now, and he still leads the league in penalty minutes.



I hope Montreal calls Flinny up sometime this season, because a fight between Flinn and the Bruin's Milan Lucic would be epic!

[Bertha Venation]

6. Why are fights allowed in hockey? Or, a better question -

Why are there fights in hockey?

[Dr. Strange]

7. Good question.

Here are some attempts at answering:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070604223036AAe2z5D
in which we find this gem

Fighting in hockey is a bit like an animal urinating on a tree.

[SoxFan]

8. The sport has a blue-collar, bar room vibe

Which is kind of weird, because it's the only sport the Ivy League is any good at. Of course, the Ivy League schools load up on big, tough kids from Toronto who are on "academic" scholarships...

Even without the overt fisticuffs, it's a violent sport. It doesn't always translate on television, but when you see a game in person, you realize the speed and brute physical force involved in the sport. When you see hockey played at the professional or the elite college level (Hockey East, CCHA, WCHA), you know that violence is a given, even when the gloves stay on.

[KamaAina]

11. Not quite true

it's the only sport the Ivy League is any good at.

Princeton has won several national championships in lacrosse.

[SoxFan]

12. OK, revenue sport

The Ivys are good at lacrosse (a popular off-season sport for high school hockey players, BTW), as well as some of the oddball stuff like crew and fencing.

While hockey isn't a revenue-maker on the level of football or basketball, it does make a few bucks for the powerhouse programs. The University of New Hampshire averages about 7,000 fans per game and draws close to 10,000 for the annual game against Maine held in Manchester. The Hockey East championship in Boston is always a sell-out (18,000); Hockey East has a regional television deal on the New England Sports Network; and UNH has a statewide radio network.

Oh, and UNH sells some really sweet swag:

[pokerfan]

9. The pros and cons of fighting in the NHL

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=buccigross_john&id=2724254

[CatholicEdHead]

10. Better question, why is hockey allowed in fights

;)

They are so much more fun to watch. I came for a fight and a hockey game broke out. ;)

[PaddyBlueEyes]

13. I would have worn the G...

My job....My coach would read the scouting report, watch warmups...call me over and point at the other teams scorer and say.."That One". My mission the rest of the night, was to jack that guy up every chance I got. If I got him to take a 5, I won. If I got him off his game enough, that he was too busy trying to run me...I won. If I got him to fight and get tossed. I won....I even played hockey every once in a while..LOL