"I am very pleased with our leadership heading into the 2010-11 season," said Handrahan. "Two of our three captains are continuing in that role from the previous season, and they did a great job.  I would expect them, as older players and developing leaders, to give direction to our still very young team."

Pappas is coming off a 2009-10 campaign in which she led Colonial defenseman in both points (12) and shots (66) for the second straight season and was named All-College Hockey America Second Team. She appeared in all 36 games for RMU last season, a career high, while notching a career-high four goals. Pappas, a two-time CHA Defensive Player of the Week award winner, also has demonstrated an ability to come through at key moments during her time at RMU. She assisted on the game-winning goal in last season's upset of eventual national champion Minnesota-Duluth on the road while helping limit the Bulldogs, the nation's second highest-scoring offense, to a single goal. Pappas also scored the game's only goal in a road victory against CHA Tournament runner-up Syracuse in February.

"Whitney has been outstanding as our captain and truly embodies what it means to be a Colonial student-athlete," said Handrahan. "She has grown significantly in her time at RMU both on and off the ice."

O'Malley, who was also an assistant captain last season, had a strong 2009-10 season, earning the RMU Offensive Player of the Year team award. She led the team in goals and game-winning goals, tying the single season school records in both categories with 18 and three, respectively, and finished the year with 30 points. O'Malley earned her first career CHA Player of the Week award in January after leading RMU to a pair of wins in which the forward tallied four goals (on just six shots), two assists and a +5 rating, while recording a hat trick in one game and the game-winning goal in the other. O'Malley enters her senior season as the program's active career leader in points (67) and goals (38) and ranks third and second, respectively, among Colonials all-time in those categories.

"Sara is a leader who shows her passion to win and succeed every day and has the game to back it up," said Handrahan. "She is a 'call it like it is' person who will help our younger players continue to grow."

Stack will be a captain for the first time in the 2010-2011 season. She received the team's Training Dedication Award following this past season in which she appeared in all 36 games. Stack recorded four assists and fired 17 shots from her spot on the blue line. She assisted on the game-winning goal in a victory over Rensselear in November, notching an assist in her third straight game in the process.

"Stacker is a newly recognized leader but will do a great job," said Handrahan. "She is a quiet leader who lets her actions and work ethic speak for themselves."

Handrahan also discussed the importance of having additional leaders throughout the lineup.

"The great thing about our leadership is that we have a lot of it-lots of players who do the right things day in and day out," said Handrahan. "There are a number of players that will add to this group of captains that will be sure we are moving in the right direction."