Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo has been named the new Captain of the Vancouver Canucks.
In a surprise announcement Tuesday, the Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault announced that the star goaltender would lead the team into the 2008/2009 season.
Luongo is forbidden under league rules from 'officially' wearing the captain's C, and will not be able to take part in the ceremonial face-offs. However, he will officially be known as the team Captain.
Because he is a goalie, Luongo will not be able to argue calls.
That job will go to the Alternate Captains who were also named Tuesday with Mattias Ohlund, Ryan Kesler, and Willie Mitchell serving in that role.
Luongo will be the 12th captain in the team's history.
He succeeds Markus Naslund, who was captain for seven years before leaving the team this summer.
After becaming a free agent this summer, Naslund signed a two-year deal with the New York Rangers. The deal is worth $8 million.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Kathy Kovacs.
