AHL veteran Rich Clune has earned the Toronto Marlies’ captaincy.

“From his first day with our organization, Rich’s strong character, positive mindset and unwavering leadership has made him an exceptional member of our team," said general manager Laurence Gilman. "His influence has touched each and every Marlies graduate, and he continues to inspire our young players on and off the ice. We are excited to see Rich continue to develop, and along with our leadership group, provide invaluable support and guidance.”

The 33-year-old has won a regular spot in the Toronto lineup as well, chipping in a pair of goals in nine games. He had played only 31 regular-season games across the past two seasons, but he had been an alternate captain in Toronto for the past five seasons since joining the Toronto