TROY — He’s had a “C” on the back of his sweater for as long as he’s played hockey. This season, Tim Conboy will wear one on the front, as well.

The 26-year-old defenseman was named the 12th captain of the Albany River Rats on Friday, succeeding Keith Aucoin, who is now in Hershey.

Serving as Conboy’s alternates will be forwards Pat Dwyer, both at home and on the road, Mike Angelidis at home and Trevor Gilles on the road.

The River Rats begin their 16th American Hockey League season at home tonight at the Times Union Center against Bridgeport. Opening faceoff is 7 p.m.

“Being an assistant last year, I wanted to be a leader on this team, but I def­initely didn’t know or expect to

receive the captaincy,” Conboy said following practice at RPI’s Houston Field House. “It’s a big honor, and I’m very thankful for the oppor­tunity.”

Bothered by a minor rib injury, which cut into his practice time and may have cost him a chance to start the season with the parent Carolina Hurricanes, Conboy won’t be in tonight’s lineup.

Even if he was healthy, Conboy has to serve the remaining two games of an eight-game AHL suspension, dating back to last year’s playoffs. He is eligible to return

Oct. 18 at Bridgeport.

“I don’t know what the plan is for him,” first-year Albany head coach-GM Jeff Daniels said. “I don’t know if he’s here for one game or 20 games or the whole year, but while he’s here, I want him to be a leader. I told him, ‘Even if you’re only here for today, I know you’ll go out and play hard.’

“That’s something that the younger guys can look up to and see how hard he works, on and off the ice. I don’t want him to change his game. We want Timmy to be Timmy. The reason I picked him is because I like what he brings every night.”

Daniels got a preview of that last spring, when Conboy was called up to Carolina and brought such energy that the Canes moved him to foward to keep him in the lineup after injuries healed on defense.

“He’s been great,” Daniels said. “He loves the game. He loves coming to the rink. He loves being on the ice and he loves being around the guys. They’ve got a lot of

respect for him, just to watch the way he battles every day on the ice. He’s just a great guy that I think can lead this team.”

In his fifth pro season, Conboy had hoped to stick in the NHL. He signed a two-year contract with Carolina July 1, which reverts to a one-way deal in 2009-10.

“I just come back with a good attitude,” he said. “I’ll keep doing pretty much the same thing I do

every day that’s helped me get where I am. Show up to the rink every day and don’t take any days off, work as hard as I can to be a leader and try to help this team win as many hockey games as possible.”

NOTEBOOK

Dwyer’s wife, Ashley, and newborn son, Ian, arrived from Wisconsin Friday afternoon. Ian Dwyer was born at 12:08 a.m. on

Oct. 1, checking in at 7 lbs., 11 oz. “It’s great,” Dwyer said. “I’m excited. I have to go home and clean up the house a little.” . . .

Daniels said goaltender Justin

Peters will get the start tonight, with Daniel Manzato going next Friday vs. Worcester in Glens Falls.

RIVER RATS CAPTAINS

Jason Miller, 1993-94; Kevin Dean, 1994-95; Scott Pellerin, 1995-96; Geordie Kinnear, 1996-99; Steve Brule, 1999-2000; Sylvain Cloutier, 2000-02; Ken Sutton, 2002-03; Mike Matteucci, 2003-04; Pascal Rheaume, 2004-05; Alex Brooks, 2005-06; Keith Aucoin, 2006-08; Tim Conboy, 2008-present.