Mark Alt Quietly Captaining Colorado to AHL Success
Mar 20, 2019
Story by: Scott MacDonald
They say success starts at the top. Hockey is no different. Every team needs someone as a leader. Someone to captain the ship, someone to command the locker room, someone who holds himself and his teammates accountable for the highs and lows of a grueling, long season; someone who gives credit where credit is due and someone who faces the music when things aren’t going right.
The Colorado Eagles have had some great leaders in its franchise’s history. From Greg Pankewicz to Matt Garbowsky, the aforementioned captains commanded Colorado’s squads through the ranks of professional hockey. Now with the Eagles soaring all the way to the American Hockey League, it was time for a new captain to lead the charge.
On Oct. 5, the team named defenseman Mark Alt as its seventh captain in franchise history. It came as a bit of a shock to the quiet 27 year old.
“A little bit of surprise,” recounted Alt. “Obviously I was ecstatic, that’s a huge opportunity no matter where you’re at. It was a new one for me...You take a whole new responsibility on that you’re not really used to, so there’s a little learning curve that’s happened but it was really exciting to get the news.”
There really hasn’t appeared to be much of a learning curve at all for the first-year captain, at least statistically speaking. Alt is on pace to break most of his previous career-highs in the AHL. He’s already surpassed his previous best in goals back in February. He attributes his success this season to the organization’s identity. It’s been a great fit for him.
“I think the difference here is they kind of let you loose,” said Alt of the reason behind his career year with Colorado. “They give you a framework, they give you a structure, but they allow you to play a fast, loose game. That’s what I loved when I first came here, I noticed how fast this organization is from top to bottom…It fits my style of game and it’s just allowed me to play a style I’m more accustomed to.”
Personal statistics aside, by all accounts, he’s done pretty well as the team’s leader, too.
“I think he’s done great,” said assistant captain Andrew Agozzino. “I think it’s a little different of a league to be a leader in, but Mark’s a strong person and he’s a quiet leader. He leads by example, and he has a lot of respect in that locker room. When he does say something, guys stop what they’re doing and listen and watch him on a daily basis and take a lot from him.”
If you were to ask any of his teammates, they’ll all tell you that No. 7 is a quiet guy. He’d rather his actions do all of the talking for him.
“We’ve had discussions about it because I’m not the most vocal guy — I can be in the locker room but it’s not really my style to be yelling at guys or kind of barking at them,” said Alt. “I’ve always kind of just done things a certain way…That’s always kind of been my goal is to just lead by example, whether I was captain or not. That’s just how I show up to the rink. I think it just got noticed and that’s something I’ve always tried to do.”
His head coach agrees.
“He’s a quiet person but he does everything the right way,” said head coach Greg Cronin. “He prepares properly, he speaks properly, he competes properly. Sometimes a leader doesn’t have to be the outspoken, animated personality. Sometimes they’re quiet and go about their business in a professional way and that’s what he does.”
And he does it pretty well. The Avalanche have taken notice, too. The defenseman has been recalled by the Avs once already this season and skated in a few games with the big club both this season and last, much like A.J. Greer. He, too, has taken notice of his captain throughout the last couple of seasons.
“He’s done a great job,” said Greer. “...he came in here with a positive attitude and a clear mindset of what he wanted to accomplish and what he wanted to do here. Having that ‘C’ is a big job, especially when you go through slumps and everything, but I think we all look up to him and we all look up to how he works and how he does things and how he acts around us and around the rink and off the ice.
“He’s done an awesome job and we’re all happy with him being captain and we’re all comfortable to go to him with anything. He’s had a hell of a season…he’s a good player.”
Now nearing the end of his first-year tenure as the team’s captain, Alt has settled into a new nest here with the Eagles. Having signed a two-year contract at the start of this season, Alt will control the blueline for at least one more year in Colorado. And by the sounds of it, the captain is pretty content in Eagles Country.
“I love it,” said Alt. “You can’t beat the city, the atmosphere, the rink. We sell it out and it’s been a blast and it’s been a ton of fun here.”
