June 22 / 07

By Guy Bertrand
Times Sports Editor

If a captain is expected to lead by example, then Trail Smoke Eaters took a big step in the right direction when they announced that Kevin Limbert would captain the team for the upcoming season.

Limbert, who will be 20 in July, is entering his fourth season with the Smokies and is a proven inspirational leader thanks to his tenacious style and great hockey skills.

"In our exit interviews with all of our players at the end of the season, we asked who they thought would be the most suitable captain for the upcoming year," said Smokies head coach Tim Kehler. "To a man, every player, with the exception of Kevin, said, 'Kevin Limbert should be the captain.' He's such an inspirational player, an exciting player."

Last season, the Fruitvale native had 21 goals and 44 points in 48 games. Just as important were his five game-winning goals, second highest on the team, and two shorthanded goals.

It's those pivotal goals that emphasize Limbert's impact on the team.

"It puts a lot a more responsibility on my role this year,", said Limbert. "But I'm really excited about the way the program has been headed the last few years and the future of it."

Limbert succeeds Alex Greenlay who also set a great example for the players last year.

"We're different personalities for sure," said Limbert. "But Alex was definitely a great leader and I watched him and how he reacted in certain situations."

Kehler said Greenlay was the right captain for last year's squad that featured 14 new faces.

"There are different components to being a good captain," said Limbert. "I'm a leader by example."

Limbert pointed to former Beaver Valley Nitehawks captain Angus McGillvray as an example of his type of leader.

"He never took a night off."

And that's exactly what is expected of Limbert.

"It'll make it that much more fun," he said. "Like playoff hockey every game."

That's just what Kehler wants to hear.

"For a coach; when your best player is also your hardest working player, then nobody has any excuses."

Kevin Limbert becomes the 12th player to captain the Trail Smoke Eaters since the club joined the B.C. Hockey League in 1995. Here are the team's other captains.

Alex Greenlay, Jon Hanley, Jesse Newman, Kevin Livingston, Brandon Gawryletz, Nathan Clarke, Jeff Mushaluk, TimFragle, Justin Van Parys, Cory Bell and Jon Newman.

CAPTAIN KEVIN: Fruitvale native Kevin Limbert, with Smokies head coach and GM Tim Kehler, will be wearing the "C" on his jersey next season after he was introduced as captain on Tuesday.