Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten named captain of Canada’s junior hockey squad
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten has been named captain of the Canadian junior team, Hockey Canada announced Sunday.
Montreal Canadiens prospect Owen Beck, Buffalo Sabres prospect Matthew Savoie, Boston Bruins forward Matthew Poitras and Arizona Coyotes prospect Maveric Lamoureux are the alternate captains.
A second-round pick (38th overall) by the Leafs last year, Minten made Toronto’s opening-night roster and played four games with the NHL team before being returned to the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers.
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The Vancouver-born forward was later traded by the Blazers to the Saskatoon Blades. He has five goals and 10 assists in 13 WHL games this season.
Beck is the lone returning player from last year’s gold medal-winning Canadian team.
The team, coached by Alan Letang of Renfrew, Ont., will be aiming for a three-peat in the IIHF showcase event. Canada opens play on Boxing Day against Finland in Group A action.
Canada won two of three pre-tournament tune-up games this past week, knocking off Denmark 8-0 and Switzerland 6-3 before dropping a 6-5 overtime decision to the United States on Saturday.
