San Jose Barracuda Announce Captain and Assistants for 2016-17

SAN JOSE - The San Jose Barracuda (@SJBarracuda) presented by Barracuda Networks and the American Hockey League affiliate of the San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) has announced its captain and assistant captains for the 2016-17 season.

Veteran forward John McCarthy has been named the second captain in San Jose Barracuda history, taking over for the departed Bryan Lerg. A 2006 seventh round draft pick (#202 overall) by the San Jose Sharks, McCarthy has 88 games (3 goals, 3 assists) of National Hockey League (NHL) experience over eight seasons and 369 games (84 goals, 120 assists) played in the American Hockey League (AHL) between Worcester/San Jose and Chicago (St. Louis Blues).

For the 30-year-old Boston, Massachusetts native, it will be the second time in McCarthy's career in which he donned the ''C" for the Sharks top developmental team. McCarthy was the captain of the Worcester Sharks in 2012-13, and an assistant captain in 2011-12 and 2015-16.

McCarthy also captained Boston University to a 2009 NCAA National Championship.

In 2015-16, McCarthy appeared in 67 games for the Barracuda, collecting 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) and 22 penalty minutes (PIM). McCarthy also appeared in one game for Sharks registering zero points and zero PIM.

Defenseman Dan Kelly and forward Ryan Carpenter have been named assistant captains.

Kelly enters his first season within the San Jose Sharks organization after playing the last six years with the AHL's Albany Devils (New Jersey Devils). The 27-year-old does have San Jose ties having played for Sharks Head Coach Peter DeBoer with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) from 2005-08. The pair won a J. Ross Robertson Cup as winners of the OHL before falling to the Spokane Chiefs (WHL) in the Memorial Cup final in 2008.

The native of Morrisonville, New York, Kelly has appeared in 352 AHL games, totaling 64 points (14 goals, 50 points) and 535 PIM's. Kelly had 15 points (4 goals, 11 assists) in 54 games and 93 PIM's in 2015-16. Kelly wore the "C" for Kitchener from 2009-10 and an "A" for Albany in 2013-14.

Carpenter returns to the Barracuda after leading the team with 55 points (18 goals, 37 assists) and a plus-20 rating in his second full season as a pro. The Sharks signed the Oviedo, Florida native as an undrafted free agent out of Bowling Green State University (CCHA) in 2014. Carpenter wore the "C" for the Falcons in his sophomore and junior campaigns and while he played junior hockey for the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2010-11.

The 25-year-old was selected as the 2016 recipient of the Yanick Dupre︠ Memorial Award for his work in the San Jose community. Carpenter made his NHL debut on Dec. 12, 2015, against the Minnesota Wild.

"All three guys are high-character individuals who lead by example," said Barracuda General Manager Joe Will. They know the the American Hockey League, our organization and the type of game we want to play.

"It was an easy decision," said Head Coach Roy Sommer. "John, Dan and Ryan embody the type of leaders and characters we want in our organization.

The San Jose Barracuda kick off the 2016-17 season on the road on Oct. 15 against the Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames) at 7:30 p.m. All the action can be heard on the flagship station of the Barracuda, AM 1220 KDOW. The Barracuda's home opener is set for October 28 at SAP Center against the Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers). Get your tickets today, starting at just $12, by calling 408-977-4747 or by visiting www.sjbarracuda.com.