What does the A mean on a hockey jersey? It marks an alternate captain, and the C marks the captain. High school (NFHS) allows up to three letters, on the left front shoulder, and USA Hockey allows one captain and two alternates. Hamco Sports adds the letters to your team’s hockey uniforms on the free mockup. Game jerseys start at $49.99 a player for 1 to 24 jerseys, ready 2 to 3 weeks after design approval.
What Do the C and A on a Hockey Jersey Mean?
The C stands for captain and the A for alternate captain. Both players speak for the team with the referee. That is the real job behind the letter: they ask about a call, relay the answer to the bench and keep the team in line during stoppages.
Many fans say “assistant captain”, and you will hear it on broadcasts. The rulebooks use “alternate”. USA Hockey’s Rule 202 and the NHL’s captain rule both say alternate, so a coach writing a roster or a league form should use that word.
A team does not need both letters. USA Hockey’s casebook says the captain does not have to wear the C, but no player may discuss a rule with the referee until a captain is named. So a USA Hockey team should put a captain on the scoresheet, even if it skips the letter. High school is stricter: NFHS rules say captains and alternates must wear the letter.
How Many Captains Can a Hockey Team Have?
A hockey team can wear up to three letters in a game at most levels, but the mix depends on the rulebook your league plays under. The table shows the three rulebooks a US team is most likely to meet.
| Level | Captain letters allowed | Who may speak to the referee | Source (checked Oct 31, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| High school (NFHS) | Up to 3 in any combination of C and A | One captain at a time | NFHS Rule 2-2-1; USA Hockey/NFHS rules comparison 2026 to 2027 |
| USA Hockey (youth and adult) | 1 captain and up to 2 alternates | The captain or an alternate, one at a time | USA Hockey Rule 202; 2026 to 2027 rules comparison |
| NHL (context only) | 1 captain and 2 alternates, or 3 alternates with no captain | The captain or alternates on the ice | NHL captain rule (Rule 6) |
Adult rec leagues and tournaments often add their own rules on top of these. Before you order letters for a new season, read your league’s handbook or ask the league office one question: how many letters may we wear, and where?
Can a Goalie Be Captain?
A goalie can be named captain in some leagues, but cannot use the captain’s privileges during a game. High-school rules say no goalkeeper may have on-ice captain’s privileges. USA Hockey lets a team name a goalie as captain, but the goalie cannot act as captain on the ice.
The usual explanation is practical. A goalie cannot leave the crease to skate over and talk to the referee without slowing the game. So a team with a goalie as its real leader names that player captain off the ice and gives the on-ice letters to skaters.
Your roster decides who gets the letters, so settle it before you order. If your goalie leads the team, name two skaters as alternates so someone on the ice can talk to the referee.
Where Does the Captain’s Letter Go on a Jersey?
The captain’s letter goes where your league’s rule puts it. High-school rules (NFHS Ice Hockey Uniform Rules, Rule 2-2-1) ask for the letter in a contrasting color on the left front shoulder. Other rulebooks and leagues set their own spot, and pro jerseys usually carry it on the chest near the shoulder.
Placement matters because a referee needs to see the letter from across the ice. A dark A on a dark jersey fails that test, which is why the rule asks for a contrasting color. Pick a letter color that stands out against the jersey body, such as white on navy or black on gold.
Settle placement before your mockup, not after the jerseys arrive. A high-school team that orders letters on the chest may find its state association expects the shoulder.
Putting Captain Letters on Your Own Team’s Jerseys
We put the C and A on your jerseys as part of the design. Hockey jerseys come sublimated, in tackle twill, or both on one jersey, and sublimated names, numbers and logos are included.
Here is how the letters get onto your custom hockey jerseys:
- Send your roster with the captain and alternates marked, and say where your league wants the letter.
- Our designers place the letters in your design, and you get a free mockup within 12 hours, with as many changes as you need.
- Check each letter on the mockup: the right players, the right spot, a color that stands out. Nothing is made until you approve it.
A worked example: a 15-player team that wants twill names and numbers pays $49.99 + $5 + $5 = $59.99 per jersey. Tackle twill is $5 per name and $5 per number. Twill captain letters are priced on your quote. If the names, numbers and letters are all sublimated with the rest of the design, the jersey price stays at $49.99 for that team size.
Want more design ideas first? Our guide on how to design your own hockey jersey covers colors, numbers and fonts.
Do Alternate Captains Change During the Season?
Alternate captains can change during the season if the coach wants them to. Some teams give the A to different players for home and away games, or rotate it so more players learn to lead. The per-game limit in your rulebook still applies every night.
Rotation affects your order. Captain letters are part of the jersey design, so a team that rotates the A needs a plan before approval. One common answer is to put letters only on the jerseys of the players who will wear them. Another is to ask on your quote how a letter can move between jerseys.
For a February 20, 2027 tournament, approve your design by January 18, 2027. That date allows 2 to 3 weeks after design approval for production, 3 to 5 days in transit and a week to spare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are hockey jerseys called sweaters?
Hockey jerseys are called sweaters because early players wore wool knit sweaters on outdoor rinks. “Jersey” came into wider use when teams moved to modern athletic fabrics, though some regions still say sweater. In the US, “hockey jersey” is the everyday term, and it is the word the NFHS uniform rules use.
Is it alternate captain or assistant captain?
The rulebooks say alternate captain. “Assistant captain” is a common nickname, and fans and broadcasters use both. If you fill in a league roster form or a game sheet, write alternate, because that is the term USA Hockey’s captain rule and the high-school uniform rules use.
Can a hockey team have two captains?
Under USA Hockey rules a team has one captain and up to two alternates. NFHS high-school rules allow up to three letters in any combination, so a team could wear two C’s. Only one captain may speak to the referee at a time. Check your league’s handbook before you order letters.
Can a player add a captain’s letter mid-season?
A letter can be added mid-season if your league allows the change. Ask about it on your quote, and our team will tell you the options for the jerseys you already have. Because there is no minimum order, a single replacement jersey with the new letter can go on its own order.
Do captain letters cost extra?
Not when they are sublimated. At Hamco Sports, a sublimated C or A prints with the rest of the design, so the jersey price stays the same. Tackle twill captain letters are priced on your quote. Tackle twill names and numbers are $5 each.
Ready to Put Letters on Your Team’s Jerseys?
Send your roster with the captain and alternates marked, and tell us your first game date. We’ll come back with a free mockup, letters in place, and a price per player. Shipping is free in the USA. No logo yet? Our designers create one for your team at no extra cost.
The same person answers you from your first email until the jerseys are in your hands, and after that if you add a player.
Get My Free Quote for your team’s hockey jerseys.
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How we made this guide: written by the Hamco Sports team. We used the NFHS Ice Hockey Uniform Rules (2019 to 2020 edition), the 2026 to 2027 USA Hockey/NFHS rules comparison and USA Hockey’s Rule 202 on captains. We also used our price list (as of October 2026) and our own design and order process. Facts checked October 31, 2026.
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