Team USA has named Ottawa Senators prospect Jake Sanderson as its captain for the upcoming World Juniors.
Seattle Kraken prospect Matty Beniers, Los Angeles Kings prospect Brock Faber and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Landon Slaggert will serve as the assistants.
Jake Sanderson has been named captain of the 2022 U.S. National Junior Team! @Matty_Beniers10, @Brockfaber14 and @slaggs_9 will serve as alternates. #WorldJuniors
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 21, 2021
Sanderson, who helped USA win gold last year, is on pace for a Hobey Baker-calibre season at the University of North Dakota with 19 points through 15 games from the blue line. The Senators selected him fifth overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Beniers, who's also one of six USA returnees, became the first draft pick in Seattle Kraken history when the club took him second overall in the 2021 draft.
USA is scheduled to play Finland in a pre-tournament game on Thursday, before beginning its title defence on Boxing Day against Slovakia.