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Bakken tapped as Rivermen captain

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Langley Rivermen's Ryan Bakken (#16) takes Surrey Eagles forward Michael Stenerson into the boards during Saturday's BCHL game at the Langley Events Centre. Bakken was named captain of the junior A hockey club.

Ryan Bakken will captain the 2011-2012 Langley Rivermen hockey team.

The 20-year-old defenceman was named captain following the junior A hockey team's practice on Wednesday afternoon.

Bakken, a Langley Minor Hockey Association product, is in his final season of junior hockey.

The 6-1, 195-pound rugged blue-liner has three goals and 29 points in 113 games for Langley. He joined the team late in the 2008-09 campaign.

His assistants will be forwards Mike Tebbutt and Derek Sutliffe and defenceman Danny Vlanich.Tebbutt is a 6-4, 215-pound power forward. The 19-year-old is entering his third year of junior hockey and his second with Langley.

Last season, he had 12 goals and 12 assists in 51 games.

Sutfliffe is in his first year in the BCHL.

The 19-year-old from Las Vegas is a 6-1, 170-pound forward.

He played last season with the Fresno Monsters of the North American Hockey League and had 11 goals and 17 points in 57 games.

Vlanich is a 6-5, 210-pound defenceman from Trail.

He played last season with the Beaver Valley Nitehawks of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, scoring four goals and 26 points in 49 games.

“The group we have identified is a solid group of experienced veterans,” said head coach and general manager Steve O'Rourke, who noted all four worked extremely hard during camp to set the example.

"It is never an easy decision especially with a room full of qualified players and leaders.”

The Rivermen open the BCHL season on Friday at the South Surrey Arena against the Surrey Eagles.

The two teams complete the home-and-home series on Saturday at the Langley Events Centre.

Game time both nights is 7 p.m.