Calgary Hitmen defenceman Karl Alzner, an assistant captain for Canada at last summer's Super Series, will sport the captain's C at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship.
The 19-year-old Washington Capitals draft pick from Burnaby, B.C., is one of two returning players from last year's squad that won gold in Sweden.
Captain Karl Alzner is one of only two players on Canada's world junior team that played in last year's tournament in Sweden.
(Jeff Vinnick/Canadian Press)
Alzner is a steadying, calming force on the back end because he makes smart decisions and passes to keep his team out of trouble.
"A good level-headed kid who will really give us good leadership," Canadian head coach Craig Hartsburg said.
The six-foot-two, 209-pound Alzner and Drew Doughty were Canada's top defensive pairing in the Super Series against the Russian junior team and they'll likely be sent out in the Czech Republic against the opposition's top scorers.
Alzner and company have their work cut out for them as Canada pursues a fourth straight gold medal.
"[On] every team the captains are important, but the leadership on this team will be very important if they can, in the dressing room, sift through some of the things that are going to happen to us," Hartsburg said.
"In this tournament, with referees and the emotion in the building, or maybe some nights no emotion in the building, it's very important we have a group to help us fight through that stuff.
"They've been through it with the Russian series and Karl was there last year, so we feel comfortable they'll keep us on the right path in the dressing room."
Brad Marchand, the other veteran of the 2007 team, was named one of the four assistant captains. Marchand, from Hammonds Plains, N.S., plays with the Val-d'Or Foreurs.
Forward Stefan Legein of the Ontario Hockey League's Niagara IceDogs, Western Hockey League forward Brandon Sutter of the Red Deer Rebels and defenceman Logan Pyett of the Regina Pats are the others.
Of the 22 Canadian players, 16 were members of the team that went 7-0-1 against Russia in the Super Series.
The team was to depart for Europe on Friday afternoon for its pre-competition camp.
Canada is in Slovakia on Dec. 20 to play that country's junior team and completes its warmup Dec. 23 against Finland in Chrudin, Czech Republic.
The Canadians open defence of their title Dec. 26, when it faces the host Czech Republic in Pardubice.
With files from the Canadian PressRelated
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