Canada announces leadership group for Spengler Cup, Former Habs fan favourite named captain

One day before they kick-off their 2022 Spengler Cup schedule, Hockey Canada announced their leadership group for the tournament.

Former Montreal Canadiens forward David Desharnais was named captain, while Kevin Connauton, Chris DiDomenico, Riley Nash and Daniel Winnik will serve as alternate captains.

Desharnais, 36, is expected to retire from hockey at the end of the 2022-23 season. He is currently in his fourth season with Swiss-based club, HC Fribourg-Gotteron. In 29 games, he's recorded 19 points (six goals, 13 assists), 26 penalty minutes and four penalty minutes.

Connauton, 32, has played parts of nine seasons in the National Hockey League and is currently playing for Philadelphia's AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In 23 games, he had three assists, 13 penalty minutes and is a minus-one.

DiDomenico, a native of Toronto, is in his fifth straight season playing in Switzerland's top division, National League. This season, the 33-year-old is playing for SC Bern and has put up 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 27 games.

Nash, a former first-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers, is playing for the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL this season, where he's put up 25 points (ten goals, 15 assists) in 27 games.

Winnik, 37, is in his fifth season in Switzerland after parts of 11 years in the National Hockey League. In 29 games with Geneve Servette, Winnik is over a point-per-game, putting up 31 points (ten goals, 21 assists).

Canada will open their 2022 Spengler Cup schedule tomorrow (Dec. 26th) at 2:15 p.m. ET/8:15 p.m. local against Czech-based team, HC Sparta Prague.

Meet the captains! 🇨🇦

C: David Desharnais (@HockeyQuebec)
A: Kevin Connauton (@HockeyAlberta)
A: Chris DiDomenico (@OHFHockey)
A: Riley Nash (@HockeyAlberta)
A: Daniel Winnik (@OHFHockey)
#SpenglerCup pic.twitter.com/ee59oDX1xT— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 25, 2022

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