In hockey, the “A” on a player’s jersey stands for Alternate Captain (sometimes casually called assistant captain).

Quick Scoop

  • The “A” marks a player as part of the team’s leadership group, just below the Captain who wears the “C.”
  • Alternate Captains are allowed to speak with referees about rules and calls on behalf of the team when the Captain isn’t doing so.
  • They help lead in the locker room, mentor younger players, and support the Captain with communication to coaches and teammates.
  • NHL rules say a team can dress one Captain and usually up to two Alternates in a game (some leagues allow up to three Alternates if there is no Captain).

So, when you see an “A” on a hockey jersey, it’s not a random letter—it’s a badge of leadership and trust, showing that player is an official Alternate Captain for their team.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.