LA Kings prospect Brandt Clarke named captain of the Barrie Colts

The eighth overall selection by the LA Kings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Clarke was named to the post on Wednesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, the Barrie Colts announced their leadership group for this season, and LA Kings prospect Brandt Clarke will proudly wear the captain’s “C” on his Colts sweater for the 2021-22 season.

With the announcement, Clarke becomes the 22nd captain in Barrie Colts history.

Introducing your 2021-22 Leadership Group!

🗞 https://t.co/TyfDeCFitG@brandtclarke55 | @nathanallensen | @EthanCardwell2 #BackInTheSaddle pic.twitter.com/yJ17Q7Ksk5

— Barrie Colts (@OHLBarrieColts) November 18, 2021

“We have a really strong core with this group of guys and I know we can all go really far this season. I’m really looking forward to leading everyone,” the Kings’ first-rounder said.

Joining him in the leadership group, Nathan Allensen, Jacob Frasca, and Ethan Caldwell were named alternate captains. Caldwell is a fifth-round selection of the San Jose Sharks from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

The Barrie Colts selected Clarke in the first round of the 2019 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection Draft. The 18-year-old right-shot defenseman posted six goals and 32 assists in 57 games played for Barrie two seasons ago.

Without an OHL season last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the young defenseman played for HC Nove Zamky of the Slovakian League, tallying five goals and 10 assists in 26 games against grown men. He returned to North America for the U18s in Frisco, Texas, posting two goals and seven points in seven games while helping Team Canada win the gold medal.

This season, he has five goals and 11 assists in only 12 games played. His 16 points are second in the OHL among defensemen behind only Andrew Perrot (17) of the Owen Sound Attack, who has two games in hand on the LA Kings draft pick.