SACO — When the Portland Pirates step on to the ice at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on Wednesday at 7 p.m., Jordan Szwarz will be serving as the team’s captain this season.

Pirates head coach Ray Edwards also chose Andy Miele, Brandon Gormley, Brandon McMillan and Tim Kennedy to act as the Pirates’ assistant captains.

Szwarz becomes the 16th captain in team history in his third year with the Pirates, taking over for former Pirate Alexandre Bolduc. A native of Burlington, Ontario, Szwarz has played 118 games for the Pirates over the last two seasons, scoring 18 goals and adding 35 assists. Szwarz set career highs in goals (11) and assists (22) in 60 games last season. Szwarz was named the winner of the Pirates’ Tom Ebright Award last season, given each season to a player who “best exemplifies what it means to be a Portland Pirate, as envisioned by team founder, the late Tom Ebright.”

“Jordan is a great teammate and a great leader, and he’ll be a great Pirates captain,” Pirates head coach Ray Edwards said. “He’s the kind of player who leads by example and gives everything he has every time he steps on the ice.”

Miele is entering his third year with the Pirates and has led the team in points for the last two seasons, while winning the team MVP award in 2011-12 and the most popular player award in 2013-14. He re-signed with the Coyotes this summer on a one-year deal.

A second year player from Murray River, PEI, Gormley played 68 games during his rookie campaign in 12-13, tallying five goals and 24 assists. The 21 year old is the youngest assistant captain for the Pirates.

McMillan was acquired by the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Matthew Lombardi at the 2013 trade deadline. McMillan suited up in five games for Portland last season, including three against the Syracuse Crunch during the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. The veteran forward has played 91 career NHL games, all with the Anaheim Ducks, to go with 114 career AHL games with Norfolk, Syracuse, and Portland.

Kennedy, a Buffalo native, spent the last two season with the San Jose Sharks organization after starting his career in Portland with the Pirates in 2008. He has played 125 career NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres, the San Jose Sharks, and Florida Panthers, and has suited up for five different AHL clubs.

The Pirates open their first full season at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m., when they look to defend their VIP Cup Series title against the Manchester Monarchs.


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