When Dominic Toninato embarks on his fourth and final, season of competition with the University of Minnesota Duluth next fall he'll do so as a team captain.

The senior center has been entrusted with that responsibility for the 73rd edition of Bulldog hockey, following in the footsteps of another Duluth East High School alumnus, defenseman Andy Welinski, who captained UMD to a second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth this past March. Senior defensemen Brenden Kotyk and Carson Soucy, along with junior right winger Karson Kuhlman, will serve as assistant team captains with the 2016-17 Bulldogs.

"This is a huge honor and one that is particularly special for me being from Duluth and growing up a devout Bulldog fan," said Toninato. "I'm extremely excited for the upcoming season and can't wait to get it started."

Toninato, a Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick, closed out his junior year with a team-leading 15 goals and six assist for 21 points while taking part in all 40 games. He also ranked second among Bulldogs in both shot percentage (.133) and game winners (four) and will enter the 2016-17 season having scored more career goals (38) than anyone on the club. Kotyk generated four points (including a career-high three goals) in 22 outings this past season while Soucy, a member of the 2015-16 National Collegiate Hockey Conference All-Academic Team, played in 38 games and had three goals and nines assists to show for it. Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the 5th round of the 2013 NHL draft, Soucy is  +24 for his career-- a figure unmatched by any current Bulldog. Kuhlman, who like Toninato and Kotyk is a two-time NCHC All-Academic Team honoree, registered personal bests for goals (12), points (20 -- the fifth highest total on the team) and plus-minus rating (+20) as a sophomore.