Canada names Lazar Team Captain

MONTREAL, QC - Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League, announced Monday that former Edmonton Oil King Curtis Lazar (Vernon, B.C./Ottawa, NHL) will serve as captain of Canada's National Junior Team at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, which runs Dec. 26, 2014 through Jan. 5, 2015 in Toronto and Montreal.

In addition, 2013-14 WHL Player of the Year Sam Reinhart (West Vancouver, B.C./Kootenay, WHL) will serve as an alternate captain alongside Connor McDavid (Newmarket, Ont./Erie, OHL).

"Curtis, Connor and Sam have all represented Canada internationally on several occasions and bring great experience and leadership to these roles," said Benoit Groulx, head coach of Canada's National Junior Team. "While these three players will wear letters, this team is blessed with many leaders and success will take a collective effort at all levels, including on the leadership side."

Reinhart is one of 10 current WHL players on Canada's National Junior Team roster this year which marks the largest WHL contingent since 2009, the last year Canada won the gold medal.

Lazar played for Canada at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship in Malmö, Sweden, where Canada finished fourth. He also played at the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and with Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team, and attended Canada National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp in August.

McDavid and Reinhart also represented Canada at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship, and were teammates with Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team at the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship, winning a gold medal. Reinhart served as captain of that team, while McDavid led the tournament in scoring and was named Top Forward.

On Dec. 23, Canada will face Switzerland in Montreal in its final pre-tournament game as part of the RBC Road to the World Juniors, leading up to the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Canada's final roster for the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship must be officially submitted on Dec. 25.