Another former member of the Sudbury Wolves has been named captain of his NHL team.
On Sunday, the Florida Panthers announced Derek MacKenzie, 35, as the team's new captain. MacKenzie, who played four seasons with the Wolves between 1997 and 2001, joins Nick Foligno of the Columbus Bluejackets as former Wolves who are captains of their NHL teams.
MacKenzie was named the ninth captain in Panthers history, according to a story on nhl.com.
MacKenzie was captain when Florida played a pre-season game against the New Jersey Devils at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, on Saturday, and replaces Willie Mitchell, who served as captain for the past two seasons.
"It's hard to put into words right now," MacKenzie told the Panthers website. "It's a little overwhelming. Obviously we did this a few years ago with Willie Mitchell and it will be tough shoes to fill but we have a great group of guys. It could have gone to a handful (of players). For them to think of me, it's pretty special. It's something I'll never forget."
MacKenzie, entering his third year with the Panthers, had six goals and 13 points in 64 games last season, the story said. The 13-year veteran signed a two-year contract extension reportedly worth $2.7 million that runs through the 2018-19 season on July 6.
"Derek embodies the type of character and work ethic we want a Florida Panther to possess," Dale Tallon, the Panthers president of hockey operations, said in the story. "He is a respected leader both on and off the ice in this organization and within the South Florida community. We are very excited to move forward with Derek as our team's captain."
On Friday, before naming MacKenzie captain, Panthers coach Gerard Gallant told the Miami Herald the decision was made "long ago, but it was a tough decision for sure ... It wasn't just mine; it was management, mine, assistant coaches."
Foligno, who played for the Wolves from 2004 to 2007, and has a home in Sudbury, where he stays during the off-season, becomes the Blue Jackets' sixth captain in May 2015.
