JAN Kostal is honoured, but will not be getting carried away after being voted to lead the Swindon Wildcats in the English Premier League this season.

Rather than head coach Ryan Aldridge picking his man to lead his team and convey his views on the ice, he left it in the hands of the players to pick their captain – something Aldridge used to do as a player in Bracknell.

The players voted ahead of the trip to Sheffield at the weekend and chose the Czech forward, who has proved a popular figure since his arrival at the beginning of last season.

Kostal made 34 appearances last season scoring 27 times and setting up 27 goals for Wildcats.

The 34-year-old, who is also assistant head coach, now hopes the team can come together as one on the ice and achieve success under his leadership.

“It is an honour for me and I want to be the best player on the ice and be a good captain and I want to be the leader,” said Kostal.

“I want to help the guys and I want us as a team to play like one man on the ice and it will be ok for other weeks I think.

“It is funny I have a lot of jobs but I am happy. I think the captain is just an award and I am honoured to have it.

“I want to be the best player, I want to help the guys and they will help me. Without the guys I would be nothing.

“I think we must all pull from one rope and if we do that we will win our matches.

“I am lucky that the guys voted for me but I think I will stay on the ground and there will be no flying.”

It was a disappointing defeat on the road to Steeldogs on Sunday and after a slow start they found themselves 2-0 down in the first period and, despite dominating the game, some poor finishing and an impressive display from Steeldogs’ stopper Dalibor Sedlar kept Wildcats at bay.

Wildcats now head to Telford tomorrow night hoping to get back to winning ways and Kostal knows that they must start better.

“I think we must play good D, that is the key and we must play well in the first period,” he added.

“I think we have a pressure in the second and third period but in the first period we must be better at Telford.

“We must go there not with our noses up, we must stay on the ground and I think it will be the key to play good D and wait for our breaks and get a lot of shots in and battle in front of their net.”