For the second year in a row, Dylan Carter will be the team captain for the Wildcats for 2016-17 season while Orion Olsen, Anthony Rosetta and Alex O’Dea will be once again serve as assistant captains.

Carter, a third-year forward from Toronto, is coming off a solid season for the Wildcats in which he tallied nine points with four goals and five assists in 21 games.

However, it’s Carter’s intangibles that make him so valuable to this Wildcats team. His attitude of leading by example and his tenacious work ethic have rubbed off on his teammates and will serve a critical role for the Wildcats this season.

“Without question Carts is the engine that makes us go,” said Coach Berman. “He’s a natural leader that sets the tone with his work ethic. He truly cares more about the guys in the room then himself. On the surface he’s not overly vocal, but when he does speak, it holds a lot of weight. He carries himself with a lot like Steve Yzerman and Jonathan Toews-with a quiet confidence. Having someone like that in a returning role will be a major reason for our push forward this season.”

Last season, Olsen, a forward from Minnetrista, Minnesota, was instrumental in setting up his teammates as his seven assets were tied for second most on the team. Olsen also added a goal to give him eight points in 28 games for the Wildcats. Beyond his statistics, coach Berman praised Olsen for his character on and off the ice.

 “He is the type of kid that does things the right way on a consistent basis by showing up on time, prepared, and ready to compete every single day,” Berman said. “He brings an enthusiasm to the rink that’s contagious, making for the kind of environment/culture we strive to have here. Beyond that, he is an excellent person, serving as a great example of the kind of people we want representing the program.”

The second assistant captain, Rosetta, is one of the most experienced players on the Wildcats as his 66 career games are tops on the team. The defensemen had three goals and three assists a season ago for UA. Rosetta is a vocal leader who enforces accountability on himself and his teammates.

  "Rosey is a kid who provides a competitive fire that was missing from this program before his arrival,” Berman said. “He doesn’t mind being the ‘bad guy,’ as far as standing up to his friends in the room, if it’s the best thing for the team. A lot of Rosey’s leadership comes from the little things away from the scene and the way he comes to the rink with a positive attitude.”

Last but not least, O’Dea, was one of the most productive players on the team last season after ranking towards the top in a few major statistical categories. The forward led the team in assists with 10 while is total points of 14 was second on the team, behind only Brian Hogan who had 16.

“Having an experienced upper classmen like O’Dea in our room is tremendous,” Berman said. “His impact is felt through his work ethic and commitment to the program. His size, agility, and athleticism are a rare package to find. On top of that, he serves as a great example of time management, as he maintains a 4.0 GPA while majoring in Physiology. I am very excited to say we are able to surround him with a really good tam for his senior year. Hopefully we can send him out the right way; as a champion!”