Ex-Spokane Chief Named Captain Of Islanders
Former Spokane Chiefs defenseman Bryan McCabe became the youngest captain in the history of the New York Islanders, and the youngest current captain in the National Hockey League, this week.
McCabe, who turned 22 on June 8, played three seasons in Spokane from 1992 until the Brandon Wheat Kings acquired him at the trade deadline in February 1995.
He’s the first former Chiefs players to serve as captain of an NHL club. He wore the captain’s “C” in Spokane in the ‘94-95 season.
“It’s awesome but no surprise to the people who’ve been involved with him,” Chiefs coach Mike Babcock said Thursday. “It’s a real honor.”
Entering his third season in New York, McCabe replaces 22-year-old Paul Kariya of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks as the league’s youngest captain.
“I think it is safe to say I have had him targeted since the second day I met him,” general manager Mike Milbury is quoted as saying in a wire-service story. “He’s a guy we have seen develop in the locker room. We were a bit concerned about his age. But I’ve talked with him and he is comfortable with the responsibility.”
The 6-foot-2-inch, 215-pound McCabe, who grew up in Calgary, didn’t miss a game the previous two seasons when he collected 15 goals, 36 assists and 321 penalty minutes.
“I am honored and proud to have the ‘C’ on my jersey,” said McCabe, who held up his new sweater Tuesday as his teammates applauded. “It is a dream for me to play in the NHL, let alone have a ‘C’ on my jersey. I am going to do the best job I can.”
Last season, Derek King, Darius Kasparaitis, Zigmund Palffy and Scott Lachance were alternate captains. Lachance, another defenseman, and Palffy, a right wing, were named assistant captains. King and Kasparaitis are no longer with the team.
“Leaders come to the forefront no matter if they had the ‘C’ on their jersey or not,” said Rick Bowness, who is beginning his first full season as Islanders coach. “It’s the passion before the game and at practice, and Bryan has it. There has been a lot thrown at this kid early.”
As for the Spokane Chiefs, Babcock’s immediate concern is putting together a lineup for this weekend’s exhibitions. Shoulder injuries will keep Jared Smyth and Blake Evans out of Friday night’s game at Portland and Sunday’s rematch with the Winter Hawks here, Babcock said.
Left wing Curtis Suter is back from rookie camp with the Phoenix Coyotes with a pulled hamstring. So, as usual, much of the early exhibition season is left to the young.
As for Spokane veterans in pro camp, left wing Greg Leeb was “ecstatic,” Babcock said, to move from rookie camp to the Dallas Stars’ main training camp.
Center Trent Whitfield is in camp with the Boston Bruins. Babcock has maintained for months that Boston will sign the 20-year-old before the club’s Oct. 2 season-opener “Once the coach (Pat Burns) sees how hard Whitter works that (contract terms) won’t be an issue,” Babcock said.
Another 20-year-old eligible to return to Spokane, free-agent center/right wing John Cirjak, has a shot at landing a contract in Detroit’s organization, Babcock said.
, DataTimes