04-07-2012, 11:34 AM
![[Image: 346a99f046adb6536347c791c842.jpg]](http://media.thestar.topscms.com/images/15/0b/346a99f046adb6536347c791c842.jpg)
(The Team stretching before todays practise)
Edmonton Comets Announce S8 Captains!
Training Camp is about half over now and preseason games are getting closer, this is why GM Seth had been watching his young team the last few days. The expert trainers he brought in where guiding his young core of players through numerous routines to improve their skills in various ways, however he was not focused on this, but on other intangible qualities...
Seth observed the interactions of the rookies with the two and three year players, he closely monitored this both on the ice and in the locker room, because this year there is real promise, finally the Comets have some depth and so there was one last decision to make...
![[Image: 77077485_crop_650x440.jpg?1278231726]](http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/000/983/848/77077485_crop_650x440.jpg?1278231726)
(Seth watching his team at practise)
Seth called all the players together during a practise and began to talk to them:
"Firstly I want to say I am proud of each and every one of your for the effort you have put into training camp this year. I can see in your eyes the desire to improve and make a name for yourself as a Edmonton Comet! Don't ever lose this desire as this is what makes the difference been an average SHL player or a great SHL player and when I look at you all I see great SHL players, Go :comets: !"
The players, rookies and veterans alike roared "GO :comets: ", like a squadron of troops would back in medieval times before a battle. It send a chill down this reporters spine.
"However, no team is complete without leaders", as Seth continued. "Leaders are what inspire us to continue to push forward when others around us are faltering, they pick us up when we have doubts, they make us believe in ourselves when others don't, they are the glue that binds us as one team."
"Last year I did not assign these letters to our players because I have a rule, if you haven't played in the SHL alteast 1 season how do you guide those around you on the SHL? The ups and downs of the season, the struggles, the frustrations? In my opinion you can't, as a result I did not assign any letters to the rookies we had and like last year no rookie this year will be getting letters either."
"However I have seen some players take on this role of leadership, I have seen the interaction and I see how the rookies are drawn towards certain other players and ask their opinion, or respect the effort these leaders show day in and day out, both on and off the ice and it is for this reason and to move us forward, closer to our goals that I am proud to announce our S8 Edmonton Comets Captains."
"Your Captain for the S8 Edmonton Comets is...........................................................Elias Armia"
"Your Alternate Captains for the S8 Edmonton Comets are........Julien Dupont and Petr Klimek
"Congratulations boys, I hope you wear those letters with pride ------------- Go :comets: !"
The Comet players, both rookie and veterans alike congratulated the S8 Captains and luckily we were able to talk with each one briefly after practise to see how this might change how they play and what they might do this season.
![[Image: li-pysyk-oil-kings.jpg]](http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/topstories/2011/12/14/li-pysyk-oil-kings.jpg)
(Armia back in Juniors as the Captain)
A smiling Elias Armia was the first to come towards us, looking down as his newly stitched "C" on his uniform..
Interview: Congratulations on the being named Captain, how does this make you feel?
Armia: I am honored to be named the S8 Captain for the Comets, we have a lot of great leaders in this locker room and any number of them could of been named the Captain.
Interview: Tell us a little about why you think you were named the Captain and what you bring to the team?
Armia : Like our GM said, a Leader needs to be someone who cares enough about his teammates to help and guide them, but also knows them well enough to know when he needs to back away and let them shine on their own. I think I have these traits and I know this balance on whether I should say something inspiring in the locker room or do something inspiring on the ice."
Interview: You had an incredible rookie campaign, do you think being named Captain will weigh you down this year?
Armia : Not at all, with or without the "C" I am still the same person, with the same ideals and personality to want to do the things I mentioned. I expect to have just as good a season as I did last year if not a better one as the Captaincy will only inspire me to dig that much deeper.
Well there you have it, the Captain of the Comets, Elias Armia.
![[Image: 102422321_display_image.jpg?1277528672]](http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/273/739/102422321_display_image.jpg?1277528672)
(A Grinning Dupont after telling another joke about Armia)
Now here comes Julien Dupont, one of the Alternatet Captains to explain to us why he was given the "A".
Interview: Congratulations on being given the "A", how does this make you feel?
Dupont (He looks around and cringes his nose a bit) - What is that smell? Was Armia just here? (he says with a smile on his face). In all seriousness though, It was an honor to be selected as alternate captain of this team.
Interview: So what do you think of the team and what will the newly appointed Captain and Assistants have to do to help this team?
Dupont: We have a great bunch of players and we're a very young team. This is only my second season with the team but there's not many Vets on this team so the Captains of this team will have to step up and show some leadership.
Interview: What type of leadership style do you bring to the Comets on and off the ice?
Dupont (With another big smile) : I like to keep the mood loose and light as much as possible and ya I joke around a little bit, I think if people are relaxed and comfortable they tend to perform better, so I am the guy you can talk to, like a buddy, while Armia is kinda the speech/high standards kinda guy.
I mean that is why we were thinking of calling him Elias "The Ego" Armia, after being named Captain, what do you think?
Interview: Umm, interesting. What about Petr Klimek, what does he bring as one of the Alternate Captains?
Dupont: Klimmy is a great guy, he is a little of both me and Armia, he jokes sometimes and is serious other times, so really it is a good combination to pick.
That was Julien Dupont talking to us about being named Alternate Captain for the S8 Season.
![[Image: koivu-saku.jpg]](http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/sports/photos/2011/01/21/koivu-saku.jpg)
(Klimek with the new "A" on his jersey)
Petr Klimek now joins us as the other Alternate Captain for the Comets this year.
Interview: Welcme Petr and Congratulations on being named Alternate Captain, what do you bring to the table for this team with that "A" on your uniform?
Klimek: Well I have been around alot longer then either Armia and Dupont, so I think I bring experience, as I have seen more of the SHL then either of the other two.
Interview: Do you think there was a reason the three of you were picked as Captains?
Klimek: Definately, Seth is a smart guy. Armia is on our top line and therefore has the "C", Dupont is on our first d-man pairing so he has the "A" and I am with the two rookies on the 2nd line, so like I said I will help bring some guidance to those two as we play the season together.
Interview: Oh, that makes sense, so Salmelainen and Slade will be your linemates for the upcoming year, that should be really interesting. What do you think?
Klimek: It should be great, they are both talented players and it should provide alot of firepower on both our top two lines now, which will help us obtain our goal of making the playoffs this year.
There you have it Comets Fans, the S8 Captains have been named and soon pre-season will be upon us!
Go :comets: !
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