Hockey Canada has announced that defenseman Kaiden Guhle, a prospect for the Montreal Canadiens, will captain Canada’s team at the World Junior Hockey Championship, which will take place in Edmonton and Red Deer from December 26 to January 5.
Habs first round pick, 16e overall, in the 2020 Draft, Guhle started the season with the Prince Albert Raiders in the Western Junior League before being traded to the Edmonton Oil Kings on 1er December.
In 20 games so far this season, the 19-year-old left-hander has registered three goals and 15 assists, with 30 penalty minutes and a plus-1 defensive ratio.
Guhle will be supported by left winger Jake Neighbors, an Oil Kings teammate, and Cole Perfetti, another forward.
The latter started the season with the Winnipeg Jets in the National Hockey League, before being ceded to the Manitoba Moose in the American League. Perfetti contributed to Canada’s gold medal at the 2021 World Championship.
Guhle, who will be making his second World Junior Championship appearance, said he was honored to be named captain, especially since he is originally from Edmonton.
“Being chosen as the captain for the World Juniors in Edmonton and Red Deer is something that makes me really proud, and I can’t wait to compete with my teammates to win a gold medal. “
Canada unveiled its 25-man roster on December 12 following a four-day selection camp.
The Canadian team will open the 2022 World Junior Championship against the Czech Republic, before facing Austria on December 28, Germany on December 29 and Finland on December 31 in the conclusion of the preliminary round.
Preparatory schedule
Until the first official games are presented, the ten competing teams will all play a pre-season game on December 23 in Edmonton and Red Deer.
One of these duels will pit Russia and Canada at Rogers Place at 7 p.m. Quebec time. At 2 p.m. in the same compound, the defending champions the United States will face off against 2021 bronze medalist Finland.
The other three games will be in Red Deer. They will pit Slovakia against Germany (4 p.m.), the Czech Republic against Switzerland (7 p.m.) and Austria against Sweden (9 p.m.).
The match between the Czech Republic and Switzerland will be played at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Center and the other two at the Peavey Mart Centrium.