Brayden Yager Named Captain of Team Canada for 2025 World Juniors
Yager Named Captain as Canada Prepares for World Juniors on Home Ice
Ottawa, ON – The excitement is building for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, and Hockey Canada has named Winnipeg Jets prospect Brayden Yager as captain for the tournament taking place in Ottawa.
Defenseman Tanner Molendyk and forward Calum Ritchie will serve as assistant captains, rounding out a strong leadership group for Team Canada. The proclamation comes ahead of Canada’s first pre-tournament game against Switzerland on Thursday, a matchup that will be broadcast live on TSN.
Yager, a 19-year-old from Saskatoon, brings valuable experience to the role. He was part of Team Canada’s roster last year, contributing two goals and three assists in five games. Unfortunately, Molendyk, also 19, was forced to miss the 2024 tournament due to an injury sustained before the opening game.
“I am honoured to be named captain of Team Canada for the World Juniors on a team with so many great leaders,” Yager said in a press release. “I am excited for our group to take the ice in Ottawa and continue working towards our goal of winning a gold medal on home ice.”
Yager,who was traded to the Jets this past summer from the Pittsburgh Penguins,has been tearing it up in the Western Hockey League this season. Splitting time between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Lethbridge Hurricanes, he has racked up 12 goals and 22 assists in 23 games.
Molendyk, a Nashville Predators prospect, has been a force on the blue line for the Saskatoon Blades, registering four goals and 21 points in 21 games. Ritchie, selected 27th overall by the Colorado avalanche in the 2023 draft, has been equally impressive with the Oshawa Generals, tallying eight goals and 34 points in 18 games.
With a talented roster and a strong leadership core,Team Canada is poised to make a serious run for gold on home ice.
Canada Names Yager Captain for Home-Ice World Juniors
Ottawa, ON – The anticipation is mounting for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, and Hockey Canada has named Winnipeg Jets prospect Brayden Yager as captain for the tournament taking place in Ottawa.
Defenseman Tanner Molendyk and forward Calum Ritchie will serve as assistant captains. The declaration comes ahead of canada’s first pre-tournament game against Switzerland on Thursday, which will be broadcast live on TSN.
Yager, a 19-year-old forward from Saskatoon, brings valuable experience to the role, having been part of Team Canada’s roster last year. Molendyk, also 19, was unfortunately forced to miss the 2024 tournament due to an injury sustained before the opening game.
“I am honoured to be named captain of Team Canada for the World Juniors on a team with so many great leaders,” Yager said.”I am excited for our group to take the ice in Ottawa and continue working towards our goal of winning a gold medal on home ice.”
Yager, who was traded to the Jets this past summer from the Pittsburgh Penguins, has been dominant in the Western Hockey League this season. Splitting time between the Moose Jaw warriors and Lethbridge Hurricanes,he has recorded 12 goals and 22 assists in 23 games.
Molendyk, a Nashville Predators prospect, has been a standout on the blue line for the Saskatoon Blades, registering four goals and 21 points in 21 games. Ritchie, selected 27th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2023 draft, has been equally impressive with the Oshawa Generals, tallying eight goals and 34 points in 18 games.