FAIRBANKS-Alaska Nanook head hockey coach
Dallas Ferguson today named the team's captain contingency for the 2014-2015 season. Junior Defenseman
Colton Parayko will serve as team captain, while forwards
Garrick Perry (senior) and
Tyler Morley (junior) will serve as alternate captains. Ferguson says the trio will lead by example on and off the ice.
"We look to them to be the guys that set the tone in the lockerroom, set the tone in practice and to set the tone in games." Ferguson said.
Parayko, a 2013-14 CCM Hockey Division I Second Team All-American, was also named WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and was a First Team All-WCHA selection while wearing an "A" on his sweater as a Nanook sophomore. He says experience in a leadership role will serve him well now that he will wear a "C" as a junior.
"It just teaches you that you have to come to the rink every day to get better," Parayko said. "And also to make sure everyone around you wants to get better."
"Parayko is a pretty intimidating guy with his stature, but I think he's a guy that's very personable," Ferguson said. "Certainly a guy that works hard represents and respects the program."
Perry, the lone senior of the captain contingency, exploded on the score sheet last season. His 22 points more than tripled his offensive output from the previous two seasons. However, it wasn't just the improved scoring prowess that led to Perry being named an alternate captain this season.
"When you see a guy that's grown the way he has on and off the ice, I think he brings a different element to the leadership group." Ferguson said of Perry.
"To wear the logo is something that's amazing, there is a lot of history behind it, and to be an assistant captain for this team and for coach Ferguson is an honor," Perry said. "I hope to wear it proudly for the guys who have worn it before, and to wear it proudly for the guys I'm playing with."
Tyler Morley has been no stranger to the score sheet, with career totals of 55 points off 27 goals and 28 assists in 68 games. This will be his first time in an official leadership role with the team, though the junior says each man on the roster is expected to lead in some capacity.
"Even though it's just us three, we still have great leadership in our senior and junior class," Morley said. "It's not going to be just us three; we're going to be relying on everyone else as well."
Alaska wraps up its first week of practice on Friday, with the annual Blue/Gold intra-squad scrimmage slated for Saturday night at the Patty Center. More on that event will be posted to alaskananooks.com on Thursday.
