For the first time since the 2005-06 season, a Madison-area native will wear the 'C' for Wisconsin men's hockey.

Forward and Verona native Tarek Baker will serve as team captain for the 2021-22 campaign. Baker was one of UW's alternate captains in each of the past two seasons.

Defenseman Tyler Inamoto, who like Baker will return for a fifth year, will serve as an alternate captain. Forwards Brock Caufield, Dominick Mersch and Roman Ahcan, all seniors next year, will also serve as alternate captains.

Baker becomes the seventh local product to captain the Badgers and the first since Adam Burish, who captained the Badgers for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons and led the Badgers to their most recent NCAA title in 2006. Baker becomes the fourth to do so as sole captain, with three area natives serving as co-captains. He also becomes the third Badger to wear a jersey letter for three seasons, joining Ben Street (2007-2010) and Mike Eaves (1975-78) in that select company.

Baker boasts 24 goals and 63 points in 137 career games for Wisconsin.

There has been one other time in UW history, the 2017-18 season, when the Badgers had five players wear a letter. That year, Peter Tischke captained the squad and Ryan Wagner, Jake Linhart, Seamus Malone and Trent Frederic all helped.

Madison-area native captains
Tarek Baker – 2021-22
Adam Burish – 2004-05, 2005-06
Brad Winchester – 2002-03
Barry Richter – 1992-93
Rob Andringa – 1990-91 (co-captain)
Peter Johnson – 1981-82 (co-captain)
Frank Chan Young – 1964-65 (co-captain)

Three-time captains/alternate captains
Tarek Baker – 2019-20 (alternate), 2020-21 (alternate)
Ben Street – 2007-08 (alternate), 2008-09 (co-captain), 2009-10 (tri-captain)
Mike Eaves – 1975-76, 1976-77 (tri-captain), 1977-78