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| Claude Giroux is the new captain of the Philadelphia Flyers (USPressWires) |
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The Philadelphia Flyers have a new captain.
Claude Giroux will wear the C on his jersey starting this season, the team formally announced Tuesday.
"Claude is the undisputed leader of this team,” Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said in a team release. “He always exhibits a tremendous work ethic in games and practices. He is a great professional both on and off the ice."
Giroux, who previously served as an alternate captain for the Flyers, will be filling the void left by Chris Pronger, who has not played since Nov. 19, 2011, while suffering from post-concussion syndrome. Kimmo Timonen will serve as the associate captain for the Flyers, while Scott Hartnell and Danny Briere will be alternate captains.
“Obviously, this is a huge honor,” Giroux said in a team release. “There have been a lot of great captains here in the past. Along with this comes a lot of responsibility which I am prepared for. Being named captain is not really going to change the way I play on the ice and act off the ice. But I am very excited about this opportunity."
The 25-year-old winger was named by the team as its most valuable player in each of the last two seasons and set career marks in 2011-12 with 28 goals, 65 assists and 93 points. Giroux has also been a top playoff performer for the Flyers with 55 points in 50 postseason games.
It’s been a pretty good year for the young superstar. Giroux was voted as the cover athlete for EA Sports NHL 13. He stayed active during the lockout as well, collecting 19 points in just nine games for Eisbären Berlin in the German Elite League. Now, when Giroux steps on the ice Saturday, he’ll do so as the 19th captain in Flyers history.
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