Curtis Lazar named captain of Canada’s National Junior Team

Connor McDavid and Sam Reinhart to serve as alternate captains

MONTREAL, Que. - Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League, announced Monday that 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, Ont., and Montreal.

In addition, Connor McDavid (Newmarket, Ont./Erie, OHL) and Sam Reinhart (West Vancouver, B.C./Kootenay, WHL) will serve as alternate captains.

“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.”

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.

NOTE TO MEDIA: All media inquiries for interviews with players and/or staff with Canada’s National Junior Team can be directed to either André Brin ([email protected] / 403-540-8444) or Paul Krotz ([email protected] / 647-505-8010).

Canada opens the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day when it faces Slovakia in Montreal. All of Canada’s games at the World Juniors will be broadcast live by TSN and RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada; check local listings for broadcast times in your area.

Tickets for the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship are still available in both host cities.

Single-game tickets are now on sale in Montreal for all 12 games at the Bell Centre, including four Team Canada preliminary round games and two-quarter-finals, starting at just $25. In addition, three mini ticket packages, including either four or five games, and all featuring at least one Team Canada game, are on sale starting at $170, plus applicable fees.

In Montreal, 13-game ticket packages include one Team Canada pre-competition game, four Team Canada preliminary round games, six other round robin games, and two quarter-finals.

In Toronto, 19-game packages include one Team Canada pre-competition game, 10 preliminary round games, two quarter-finals, two relegation round games, two semifinals, the bronze medal game and gold medal game.

Complete ticket information for the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, and all 10 RBC Road to the World Juniors pre-tournament games, can be found at www.hockeycanada.ca/2015juniors.

For more information on Hockey Canada, Canada’s National Junior Team and the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, www.hockeycanada.ca/2015juniors,or follow on social media at www.facebook.com/worldjuniors, www.twitter.com/hc_wjc and www.twitter.com/hc_men.