Throwback Thursday: This week in 2008, Vancouver Canucks named Roberto Luongo captain

This week in 2008 (Sept. 30), the Vancouver Canucks named Roberto Luongo the 12th captain in franchise history despite him never wearing a ‘C’ on the ice. He became the second goaltending captain in league history, the first being Bill Durnan in 1947-48.

The decision was surely strange, given the league rules that forbid goaltenders from being captain. He did take on any of the on-ice duties of a captain, and without the ‘C’ on his chest, he incorporated it into his masks artwork.

Luongo served in the role for only two years, before in September 2010 he relinquished the role. Those two years he did serve, however, he was tremendous for the Canucks. He posted a 73-35-11 record in 122 games posting a .916 save percentage.

And the year he gave up the ‘C’? Luongo was a top-three finisher in the Vezina trophy and won the William Jennings trophy. In 2010-11 he posted a 38-15-7 record in 60 games along with a .928 save percentage.

On Twitter: @zjlaing