<P> The captain is often considered the primary representative of the team to the public, and sometimes is responsible for organizing the team's social functions and performing ceremonial on - ice functions, such as award presentations or ceremonial faceoffs . </P> <P> NHL teams need not designate the same player as captain from game to game, though most teams do . For instance, in the 1985--86, when Boston Bruins captain Terry O'Reilly retired, Ray Bourque and Rick Middleton were named as co-captains of the team . Middleton wore the "C" during home games and Bourque for road games during the season's first half, and the two switched for the second half . This arrangement continued until Middleton retired in 1988 and Bourque became the sole captain . Some teams name two (such as the Buffalo Sabres during the 2005--06 and 2006--07 NHL seasons) or three (such as the Vancouver Canucks during the 1990--91 season) captains for a season . Some teams rotate captains rather than keep one for an extended period of time (the Minnesota Wild rotated captaincy every one or two months until the 2009--10 season, when Mikko Koivu was named the first permanent captain since the franchise's inception). During each NHL game, however, only one player can officially be designated as captain . </P> <P> Captains are usually veteran players, though on occasion younger players are chosen . The selection is often seen as an important moment for a team, and one that can affect the team's (and newly appointed captain's) performance . Captains are selected by different means: in some instances, teams have held votes among their players to choose a team captain, while on other occasions, the choice was made by team management . Captains are often chosen due to their seniority in the game and years of service with their current club . However, franchise players--current or emerging stars--have also been named captains . Though not required, many captains have previously served as alternate captains of their team . Some selections or removals of NHL captaincies have been controversial, more so than the other North American professional sports leagues . For instance, in Canada men's national ice hockey team, then - General Manager Bobby Clarke selected Eric Lindros for the 1998 Olympics, considered somewhat controversial as Lindros was chosen over longer - tenured NHL captains such as Steve Yzerman, Ray Bourque and Wayne Gretzky, Clarke was also General Manager of the Philadelphia Flyers whom Lindros played for professionally . In 2000, when the relationship between Clarke and Lindros deteriorated during contentious contract negotiations and the team's handling of Lindros' injuries, the team captaincy was handed over to Eric Desjardins . Tampa Bay Lightning head coach John Tortorella stripped the captaincy from Vincent Lecavalier for failing to meet on - ice performance expectations . In 1980, Darryl Sittler angrily resigned the captaincy by cutting off the "C" from his jersey with scissors, in protest of Harold Ballard's trade of his best friend Lanny McDonald, Ballard would liken Sittler's actions to burning the Canadian flag . </P> <P> The rules of the IIHF, NHL and Hockey Canada do not permit goaltenders to be designated as on - ice captains, due to the logistical challenge of having the goaltender relay rules discussions between referees and coaches and then return to the crease . The NHL introduced a rule prohibiting the goaltender from being a captain following the 1947--48 season (see § Goaltender captains below). In the NCAA, there is no position - based restriction on the team captain . </P>

Who picks the captain of a hockey team
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