There are few roles on any sports team more important than that of team captain. For a coaching staff, the decision to select a new leader can often set the tone for the entire season to come.
As the Carleton Raven’s men’s hockey team attempts to build upon its best finish since the program’s rebirth in 2007, it seems they have made the right decision.
With four-year captain Brad Good completing his last season with the squad, there were big skates to fill as the on-ice leader.
Veteran forward Brandon MacLean has been selected to fill those skates.
The Burlington, Ont. native will be wearing the “C” for head coach Marty Johnston this season — a decision that was made before the team headed down south for its pre-season games in the U.S. earlier this month.
“It’s quite an honour to be named captain, but I really feel like I’m a leader amongst leaders,” MacLean said. “There are a lot of leaders on our hockey team, so it makes my job easier when you have other guys pulling the same way.”
The experience and leadership qualities of fellow veterans such as Ryan Berard and Justin Caruana – both of whom are assistant captains this season – certainly gave the coaching staff food for thought, but in the end, MacLean emerged as the clear choice.
“His work ethic speaks for itself when you see him on a daily basis. He really embraced the fact that [Good] had graduated and he stepped up in training camp and made it an easy decision for us,” Johnston said. “We never have to worry whether he cares or he wants to do it because he shows up to work every day and tries to make everyone around him better.”
For MacLean, the responsibility of captaincy is something he has experienced before. The 6’0” forward served as the co-captain of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds during his time in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
If that experience wasn’t enough, MacLean had the best possible mentor when it comes to being the face of Ravens hockey: none other than Good himself.
The two men were roommates for three years.
“He took a lot of pride getting ready on and off the ice and he took care of all the areas of life as a university student and athlete,” MacLean said of his former roommate. “He really emphasized hard work in the classroom and helping guys out. He was just a model of consistency and he brought the same effort every single day.”
While the two couldn’t be more different on the ice, with Good being a shutdown defenceman and MacLean a high-scoring forward, Johnston said they both share strong leadership qualities in the dressing room.
MacLean said he prefers to let his play on the ice do the talking — something he did in abundance last season. The fourth-year forward led the Ravens in scoring during the 2010-11 campaign, recording 12 goals and adding 24 assists.
Those 36 points ranked MacLean ninth on the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) scoring charts, tied with teammate Joey Manley.
“I think going out there and leading by example is the best way to get your point across,” he said. “But if something needs to be said, absolutely you stand up and do so. But we’ve got quite a yappy group so everyone kind of talks in the room, so that’s good.”
But he also knows how to step up at crunch-time.
A first team all-star last year, MacLean tied for the team lead in scoring during the Ravens historic playoff run – once again with Manley – netting two goals and chipping in with six assists.
This season, the former Greyhound has picked up right where he left off. MacLean leads the team with six points — one goal and five assists.
“I’m just trying to play my game and do what got me here and not change too much,” he said. “It’s more beneficial if I play my game and not try and reinvent the wheel here.”
So while many players may crumble under the pressure of having the “C” sewn on their sweater, MacLean is already proving he can deal with the added responsibility.