<P> NHL teams may choose alternate captains from game to game or appoint regular alternate captains for the season . In North America, alternate captains perform many of the same leadership and team building roles as the captain . In the 1969--70 season, the Boston Bruins had three alternate captains (Johnny Bucyk, Phil Esposito and Ed Westfall) instead of a captain sporting the "C ." However, as Bucyk was the most senior of the alternate captains, he was first one to be presented the Stanley Cup when the team won the championship in 1970 and 1972 . </P> <P> In the NCAA, a team can designate a single alternate captain to assume the role of captain, should the captain be unavailable due to injury or penalty . </P> <P> The letter "C" or "A" is attached to the jersey of the team's captain and alternate captains (commonly sewn at higher levels of play, though removable insignia exist so the "C" or "A" designation can be easily changed). The designation is traditionally placed on the left side of the sweater, though the IIHF, NHL and NCAA rules specify only that it must be in a "conspicuous location on the front" of the player's sweater . Two teams in the NHL have sweaters where the positioning of the crest on the front leaves insufficient space on the left for the letter: the Detroit Red Wings, who place the letter on the right side of the home and road jerseys since the 2007--08 season, and the Arizona Coyotes, who moved their captains' patches to the right side when they updated their uniforms in 2015 - 2016 . </P> <P> Steve Yzerman served as the captain of the Detroit Red Wings for 20 years (1986--87 to 2005--06) and 1,303 games during that time, the longest term in the history of the NHL by both years and games . The Boston Bruins' Ray Bourque was previously the longest - tenured captain in NHL history from 1985--86 to 1999--00, being co-captain for the first three seasons . Daniel Alfredsson holds the record as the longest - serving European captain serving for 14 years (1999--00 to 2012--13). Brian Bellows was the youngest captain in NHL history, serving as the interim captain of the Minnesota North Stars from January 1984 until May 1984 . The youngest permanent NHL captain in history is Connor McDavid, announced as Captain by the Edmonton Oilers on October 5, 2016, at the age of 19 years and 266 days . </P>

Where does the c go on a hockey jersey