The Saint John Sea Dogs have named Mike Thomas as the team's newest captain, the first New Brunswick-born player to hold that title.

'If I have to fight for my team, I'll do that for my teammates, and I know they'd do the same thing for me.'— Mike Thomas, Saint John Sea Dogs

Thomas is one of the most feared tough guys in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Already this season he's earned 16 penalty minutes and had to serve a six-game suspension for instigating a fight.

Gerard Gallant, the Sea Dogs coach, said it is rare to offer the captaincy to a team's toughest player.

But Gallant said selecting Thomas was the right choice for the Sea Dogs.

"To me your captain doesn't have to be your top scorer and your best player," Gallant said.

"From the first time I met him, I see captain qualities in him. It's nothing to do with his toughness, it's just as a person."

Gallant is a fan of hard-nosed hockey and was known as a power forward during his decade in the National Hockey League. When he played with the Detroit Red Wings in 1988-89, Gallant scored 93 points and racked up 230 penalty minutes.

Thomas to tone down play

Gallant has asked Thomas to tone down his own aggressive play now that he's going to be the team's captain.

Thomas said he'll do what he needs to in order to help the team win.

"If I have to fight for my team, I'll do that for my teammates, and I know they'd do the same thing for me," Thomas said.

The Sea Dogs are currently in first place in the QMJHL's Atlantic division with 10 wins in the first 15 games of the season.

Only a few New Brunswick-born players have ever captained one of the three major junior teams.

Thomas said he also hopes to join a more exclusive group from the province, players skating in the NHL.

Thomas is now being scouted, including by the Philadelphia Flyers, a team known for its tough guys.