Ottawa Senators' AHL Club Announces Its New Team Captain

The Senators were in the market for a new captain this season, both in Ottawa and Belleville.

After Brady Tkachuk's departure, the Senators handed their captaincy to Thomas Chabot. On Friday, their American Hockey League affiliate went with a veteran D-man as well, naming Scott Harrington the seventh captain in B-Sens history.

Harrington, 33, is in his second season with Belleville and brings a wealth of experience to the role, having played nearly 255 NHL games and more than 300 in the AHL.

The Kingston, Ontario native has appeared in all 12 games for Belleville this season, recording a goal and an assist. Last season, he played 68 games for the club, collecting three goals and 16 assists for 19 points.

While Harrington has worn a letter before, this is the first time he's been named captain of a professional hockey team.

He served as an alternate captain with Belleville last season and has previous leadership experience from his junior hockey days. Harrington captained the London Knights in 2012-13 and was an alternate captain for Canada's national junior team at the 2013 World Junior Championship.

"It's a huge honour and a privilege to wear a letter on a professional hockey team. We've got a lot of leaders on our team, and to be recognized as the captain is a big thrill for me and my family," Harrington said in a club statement.

"I said when I signed here last year that it's like a full-circle moment, because it's the closest I've played to home (Kingston) since I left to play junior in London."

Harrington replaces Garrett Pilon, who's been Belleville's captain the past two seasons. Pilon signed on this fall to play in the KHL with Nur-Sultan Barys, where he has 16 points in 22 games.

Harrington will wear the 'C' for the first time Friday night when Belleville hosts the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at CIBC Place to open the club's annual Hockey Fights Cancer Weekend.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa