Canada forward Scott Laughton, right, is tripped up by CIS Toronto Selects defenceman Lane Werbowski, left, during third period exhibition hockey action at the world Juniors selection camp in Toronto on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. Hockey Canada has named Laughton as captain of the world junior hockey team. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
December 19, 2013 - 9:24 AM
COPENHAGEN - Hockey Canada has named Scott Laughton as captain of the world junior hockey team.
Laughton, the captain of the Ontario Hockey League's Oshawa Generals, is representing Canada internationally for the third time. He's suited up twice for the under-18 team, winning gold at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament and bronze at the 2012 U18 world championship.
The six-foot-one, 190-pound centre is currently eighth in OHL scoring with 24 goals and 26 assists in 29 games. He was drafted 20th overall by Philadelphia in 2012.
Forward Jonathan Drouin of the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads and defenceman Mathew Dumba of the NHL's Minnesota Wild will serve as alternate captains.
Drouin was on last year's world junior team that failed to win a medal. He also won gold with the under-18 team at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka tournament.
The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect and third-overall pick in the 2013 draft has 17 goals and 33 assists in 23 games with the Mooseheads this season, good for sixth in the QMJHL.
Dumba was the captain of Canada's under-18 team, at the 2011 Hlinka and 2012 world championship.
The Wild rookie has a goal and an assist in 13 games so far in his debut NHL season.
Canada still has 25 players (two goaltenders, eight defencemen, 15 forwards) at camp, and must bring that number down to 22 players for the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship, which starts Dec. 26 in Malmo, Sweden.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013