Axel Hurtig is making history as the first European player to serve as captain of the Calgary Hitmen.

The Western Hockey League club announced Friday that the Swedish defenceman and Calgary Flames prospect has been named the 33rd captain in franchise history.

“Axel has led by example from day one of training camp, leading both on and off the ice,” said Hitmen head coach Dustin Friesen of the hulking blueliner, who’s listed at 6-foot-4 and 217 lb. “He is a player and person that his teammates respect and rely on and we believe will lead this team in the right direction.”

Hurtig was selected by the Flames in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft before being chosen by the Hitmen as their lone pick in the 2023 CHL Import Draft.

Now in his second season with the club, the 20 year-o

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