Seniors Ryan Flynn and Tony Lucia will serve as the co-captains for the menâÄôs hockey program during the 2009-2010 season. Flynn was named an assistant captain last season while Lucia will be starting his first year with captain responsibilities. Flynn has played in 118 games for Minnesota as a forward, scoring 47 points during the last three seasons. Tony Lucia, also a forward, played in 121 games for the Gophers, scored 54 points, and won the teamâÄôs Unsung Hero Award last year. âÄúItâÄôs good to know your teammates respect you and look up to you as a leader,âÄù Lucia said. âÄúRyan did a great job last year and will continue that this year, and IâÄôm looking forward to sharing that responsibility with him.âÄù Flynn said his main responsibility last year was to act as the link between the coaches and players. He said he tries to lead the team by example by letting his work ethic and discipline help the other players. Lucia said he plans to carry himself in a positive manner on and off the ice and said it is important to show strong character for the younger players. âÄúIt gives the guys a person to look up to when theyâÄôre not quite sure what to do or whatâÄôs going on,âÄù Lucia said. âÄúIt gives them a chance to look at somebody who can show them a positive way to lead them to success.âÄù Lucia said he and Flynn have had a strong relationship since freshman year, and he is looking forward to working with him as captain to reach their goals for the season. âÄúWe just want to install a new work ethic. We want to obviously get the program back to where it needs to be and thatâÄôs at the top of the WHCA and NCAA tournament,âÄù Flynn said. âÄúThatâÄôs what our goals are for the season and anything less than that will be unacceptable for us.âÄù Lucia said itâÄôs important for them to help the team reach their goals this year since they came up short last season, having finished fifth overall in the WCHA. Though the season has yet to begin, the two captains are already leading the off-season conditioning for the team this summer. Assistant captains will be named in September prior to the start of the season.