Farynuk Elected Thunder Captain

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, has announced former Rensselaer defenseman Brad Farynuk has been named the team's new captain, making him the second player in Thunder history to wear the "C" since the team joined the ECHL in 2005-06.

Farynuk, 25, was recalled to Springfield on November 20 and in his absence, center Brandon Schwartz will serve as acting captain while Farynuk is on the AHL roster in Springfield.

The team's captaincy was selected by a majority vote among the players in the Thunder dressing room.

"Brad Farynuk's leadership at this stage of his career is very advanced," said Cichocki. "His play and demeanor exemplify a ‘team-first' concept. When in the locker room, our guys listen to him and they're aware that he's been in a captain's role before."

The native of Enderby, British Columbia previously served as co-captain for the final two seasons of his college career at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NCAA), scoring 79 points (18g-61a) in 146 career games.

Additionally, Farynuk helped guide the Dayton Bombers to a berth in the Kelly Cup Finals and the American Conference's North Division title (37-26-9 record, 83 points) last season, tying for the ECHL lead in scoring among defenseman for the Kelly Cup Playoffs with 16 points (4g-12a) in 22 games. Farynuk ended the ninth longest game in ECHL history (101:23) in game one of last year's American Conference Final, scoring the Bombers' game-winning goal at the 1:23 mark of triple-overtime in a 4-3 Dayton win over the Florida Everblades.

Schwartz, 26, served as team captain as a 2005-06 senior at Michigan Tech University (NCAA), scoring 82 points (34g-48a) with 109 penalty minutes in 143 career college games. In 97 career pro games, Schwartz has scored 60 points (21g-39a) with Stockton, Long Beach and South Carolina of the ECHL and Binghamton of the AHL. The St. Cloud, Minnesota native appeared in the 2007 ECHL All-Star Game in Boise last year, named as the only Long Beach representative to the National Conference roster.

"Brandon provides a vocal presence in our room and plays a smart and solid game," said Cichocki. "He's bought into our ‘team-first' concept by doing the little things right."

When Farynuk wears the "C," Schwartz and defenseman Beau Geisler will serve as alternate captains, while defenseman Phil Cole will don an "A" on his jersey with Farynuk serving time in the AHL.

Farynuk joins Dean Stork (2005-06) in the succession of Thunder captains. The Thunder did not name a captain in 2006-07.