HELSINKI, FINLAND - Jason Pominville has been named Captain of the Buffalo Sabres. Head Coach Lindy Ruff announced the move at the team's dinner on Thursday night on the eve of their season opener against the Anaheim Ducks.
"This guy epitomizes a lot of what we are. He's fought through a lot of adversities," Ruff said on the team's website. "He's been in our system for a long time, grew up playing in Rochester, and this whole group (of captains) has grown up together. We have to take the pain of the last two years in the playoffs and push ourselves past that and be a team that can go all the way. That being said, I'm proud to announce that Jason Pominville is our captain."
Pominville, a former Rochester Amerk, has spent six full seasons with the Sabres and scored 52 points (22g+30a) this past season.
"It's an honor to represent the team and the guys on and off the ice," Pominville said. "I think this is going to be a great year and for that to happen we've got to hold each other accountable and push each other to get better and better each day. For that to happen it's going to have to come from everybody regardless if you've got a letter on your jersey or not."
Ruff also announced that the following players have been named assistant captains for the upcoming season: Paul Gaustad, Thomas Vanek, Derek Roy, and Drew Stafford.
All five players that Ruff selected are former Rochester Americans.
