The Wild name forward Evan Friesen captain, along with five others that will serve as assistants.
The Wenatchee Wild are following in the footsteps of fellow U.S. division member Everett Silvertips, but naming one captain instead of two.
Evan Friesen, a Manitoba native, is awarded the captaincy after three full seasons with the franchise; two of them preceding the Wild's move from Winnipeg, formerly known as the ICE. Friesen replaces inaugural Wenatchee captain Graham Sward, who has moved on to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.
A veteran of 176 WHL games (and counting) with the ICE/Wild, Friesen brings a valuable presence to the Wild locker room. His total is the most on the active roster, and surrounding him in his leadership is a variety of backstories.
Kenta Isogai, in his final year of junior hockey, spent three seasons with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League before coming to Wenatchee in 2023-24. The Japanese forward made an immediate impact, putting up 88 points in 64 games and is off to a hot start this season with six points in four games.
Dawson Seitz, another 2023-24 newcomer, was a member of the 2022 Edmonton Oil Kings squad that captured the WHL Championship and moved on to the Memorial Cup. Hailing from Medicine Hat, the 2005-born forward brings a hard-nosed approach to the game as well as his championship pedigree.
Acquired in the middle of last season, defenceman Sam Ward joins Wenatchee after 61 games with the Swift Current Broncos, as well as spending the 2021-22 season with the Merritt Centennials of the British Columbia Hockey League. Standing in at just five-foot-seven, Ward knows how to overcome the odds and carve himself a role on any team he finds himself a part of.
Moving to the youngest of the group, 2006-born Josh Fluker also comes to the Wild from Swift Current. After a lackluster 2023-24 campaign, Fluker is off to the races with five points in four games to start this season and make a case to be selected in his second go-round of the NHL Draft.
Last but certainly not least, former Medicine Hat Tigers blueliner Reid Andresen rounds out the Wild leadership group. Logging 210 WHL games heading into this season, all of them with Medicine Hat, Andresen will help foster a culture of loyalty in the Wenatchee dressing room.
“It goes without saying, but I am very proud of the guys we selected to lead our hockey club,” said Wenatchee Wild head coach Don Nachbaur. “The leadership group consisting of Evan, Kenta, Reid, Dawson, Josh and Sam represents everything we were looking for in terms of doing things the right way, on and off the ice. Evan earned the respect of players and coaches, while the same can be said about Kenta. We will rely on them heavily to carry the torch and instill a culture we can be proud of, for years to come. Our support group consisting of Reid, Dawson, Josh and Sam are strong people who will be called upon to add additional leadership.”
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