Forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Los Angeles Kings), and defensemen Evan Bouchard (Edmonton Oilers) and Ian Mitchell (Chicago Blackhawks) were named alternate captains.

"Just to represent my teammates and the coaching staff and that they believe in me that I can assume this role and be a leader on this team, it's a huge honor," Comtois told TSN. "We have 11 captains on our team from their club teams so it's a huge honor to represent them."

Comtois had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 10 games for the Ducks. He last played in the NHL on Oct. 23 because of a lower-body injury and was returned to his junior team, Drummondville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, on Nov. 24.

He is the only returning player from Canada's 2018 WJC championship. Comtois had six points (three goals, three assists) and a plus-6 rating in seven games.

"Known him now for two years and he's a good man," said Canada coach Tim Hunter, an assistant coach at the 2017 and 2018 WJC. "He's a leader in the locker room. He's a leader off the ice. He's led all the way through this on all the little details and the mindset we want and he's played like a leader on the ice so really felt comfortable with Max. I know him well and have a good relationship with him."

The 2019 WJC starts Wednesday and runs through Jan. 5 in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. Canada, which will play its preliminary-round games in Group A, opens the tournament against Denmark at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; TSN, NHLN [joined in progress]). Also in Group A are Czech Republic, Russia and Switzerland.

Group B, which will play its games at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, consists of Finland, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Sweden and the United States.