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Raine deserves the C

Michael Kantor, John Kurtz, Marc Staal and Zack Stortini are some of the players that come to mind when you talk captains of the Sudbury Wolves over the last decade.

Michael Kantor, John Kurtz, Marc Staal and Zack Stortini are some of the players that come to mind when you talk captains of the Sudbury Wolves over the last decade.

Will we be able to add 2013-14 captain Kevin Raine’s name to that distinguished list after he takes his turn wearing the C?

On several occasions during the off-season, I took a look at the roster to try figure out who I would like to see as the team’s official leader. Not that I would ever have a say in such a decision, but time and time again, I put a check beside Raine's No. 11.

Yes, there are players who score more often than he does and yes, there are players who have been with the organization longer, but in my mind Raine is the type of person you want as your captain.

Webster's Dictionary defines captain as ”a military leader: the commander of a unit or a body of troops.” On the Wolves, Raine is the perfect player to fit that role.

I had the chance to interview him before the Wolves opened their season in the Soo on Saturday night and there were a couple of comments he made that reinforced why I feel he was the right choice.

“I’m proud to wear the C,” said Raine. “Obviously, it’s a big honour and I’m proud to carry the torch passed to me by Michael Kantor. I take the responsibility very seriously.”

There is no doubt in my mind that he does take the responsibility seriously. While Raine has only been with the club a few months, it was obvious from the start he had a plan for his future. And it seems his experience at the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp has fueled that fire in his gut even more.

“At the end of the day, it is just a letter on my chest. I’m not wearing it just so I can flaunt it around; I’m wearing it so I can lead this team to success.”

The captain is more than the player who goes to talk to the referee when there is something on the ice that has to be addressed. He also has to the lead the team off the ice and be the middle man between the players, coaching staff and management.

Oh yeah, he also has to be guy to deal with the media in the good and the bad times.

“I lead by example,” Raine told me. “I block shots and I sacrifice my body for my team and I’m going to go on the ice and play hard and give my all every game, and hope these guys can take note — especially these young guys coming in.”

Some may think you go down the roster and pick a player who has been with the team the longest and make that player captain. It’s not that simple. A captain instantly becomes the face of the franchise that has to represent not only the team, but the city as well.

There seem to be a sense of entitlement with some players these days, a sense that they should have things handed to them.

Raine is not that type of player. His actions both on and off the ice should set the example for young players coming up on what it takes to be a good captain.

Stew Kernan is the radio and television voice of the Sudbury Wolves, and the News Director at KiSS 105.3 and Q92. This column appears every other week in Northern Life.


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