Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov hoists the Stanley Cup after winning the finals in Sunrise, Fla., on Monday, June 24, 2024. Barkov and Victor Hedman were named captains for Team Finland and Team Sweden, respectively, on Thursday ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
January 30, 2025 - 7:39 AM
Aleksander Barkov and Victor Hedman were named captains for Team Finland and Team Sweden, respectively, on Thursday ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Barkov, who made history as the first Finnish captain to win the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers last year, will be joined by Sebastian Aho and Mikko Rantanen, both of the Carolina Hurricanes, and Mikael Granlund of the San Jose Sharks as assistant captains for Finland.
Hedman, a 16-season veteran in his first campaign as captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning, will lead Sweden, with Mattias Ekholm of the Edmonton Oilers, Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs serving as alternates.
Canada and the U.S. were scheduled to announce their captains later Thursday.
The tournament, featuring Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the U.S., begins Feb. 12 in Montreal.
It will be the closest hockey has come to a best-on-best competition since the 2016 World Cup.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 30, 2025.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2025