It’s a big job to sport that all-important ‘C’ on the ice

CEDAR RAPIDS - You're a buddy, a coach, a therapist, a sounding board and a relationship counselor. You're a liaison, a representative, a public relations expert.

You can be a talker, but listening is more important. First and foremost, you have to be a player, a worker.

When they sew the “C” on the crest of your hockey jersey, you have one of the most prestigious titles in sports. You're the team captain, and you have responsibilities.

Lots of them.

“Being a captain, especially for a team and organization such as the RoughRiders, is something I'm extremely proud of and something I also take very seriously,” Jayson Megna said. ”It's truly an honor to be recognized by your teammates and to represent a (franchise) with great alumni and a winning tradition.”

Megna wears this year's “C” for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. His assistants (the guys with an “A” on their jerseys) are Tommy Fallen, Michael Parks and Stu Wilson.

The team votes before each season on the honors, and Coach Mark Carlson gets the final say. He said he's never changed who his team voted for.

“The captain is not the guy with the prettiest girlfriend,” Carlson said. “He might have the prettiest girlfriend, but he's not necessarily the most popular guy. He's got to be the guy who represents your organization on and off the ice the way you want.”

Carlson said he goes over a “book” with his leadership quartet before the season and virtually every week that explains his expectations. They have regular meetings to discuss the team, how it is playing and if there are concerns.

He has asked them for their opinions before making a trade. On the ice, they are the only players allowed to speak to referees.

“As far as what I've tried to be good at, I try to lead by example on and off the ice,” Megna said. ”Be there for my teammates, listen to their problems and try and keep the team's chemistry and relationships in balance, as well as be an extension of the coaching staff. ”

That first thing is what Carlson said he expects most.

“It's the things you do, how hard you work,” he said. “It's following the plan, it's taking care of things in the (locker) room. It's a full-time job, and it's not an easy job. Megs has done a really good job this year.”

Megna is an outgoing sort, but Carlson said that's not necessarily a prerequisite to being a good captain. He pointed to Rob Ricci, who was captain of the RoughRiders' 2004-05 Clark Cup championship team. Ricci was a quiet guy.

“He played in all the situations, did all the tough things,” Carlson said. “He competed, loved to win more than anything in the world, hated to lose more than anything in the world. On a real talented team with a lot of superstars, four NHL guys, he quietly led that team.”

Megna said he learned a lot about being a captain from watching Jeff Costello last season.

“I'm obviously not perfect, and there are skills and qualities I need to work on and improve at,” he said. “I think that's why you need great assistants like Tommy, Stu and Michael and the rest of the team around you. So that when you make a mistake or have issues, they are there for you, as I would be for them.”