Team Canada has named the four players that will lead the team on the ice for the World Junior Hockey Championsip beginning Boxing Day in the Czech Republic. We'll take a look at each below, beginning with the Alternate Captains.
Selected 13th overall by the Dallas Stars in 2018, Dellandrea also served as an assistant captain for Team Canada at the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championships. Team Canada placed fifth in the tournament and Dellandrea ended with two goals and five points. Now 19, the centre has suited up for 27 games with the Flint Firebirds of the OHL this season, recording 17 goals and 37 points. He played 11 games for the Texas Stars of the AHL last season, managing three points (two goals, one assist).
A-Ty Smith
Th 19-year-old blueliner has been playing for the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL since 2015-16. In 21 games his season he has four goals and 13 assists for 17 points. Smith played for Team Canada in the tournament last year, getting three assists in five games. The left-handed shooter was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the first round, 17th overall, in the 2018 entry draft.
A-Joe Veleno
Veleno was drafted 30th overall by Detroit in 2018 and is currently playing with the Red Wings' AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. The centre has recorded 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 29 games this season. He's been described as "a hard-nosed workhorse that makes the players around him better."
Hayton is a prospect of the Arizona Coyotes, selected fifth overall in the 2018 NHL entry draft. Hayton has recorded a goal and three assists in 14 games with the Coyotes this season. The 19-year-old was part of the Canadian squad that lost in overtime in the quarterfinals to Finland at last year's world junior hockey championship in Vancouver and Victoria. He had four assists in five games at the event.
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