Point named captain of Canadian team in WJC

Center Brayden Point was named captain for Canada for the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship on Thursday.

Point, a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect, is one of four players from Canada's 2015 WJC championship team returning for the 2016 tournament. He had two goals and two assists in seven games at the 2015 WJC.

"I was kind of shocked," Point told TSN. "I almost didn’t believe it. But I'm very happy and excited."

Point's availability for the tournament had been in question. He had been out of the lineup for Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League because of a shoulder injury sustained Nov. 17. He sat out two of Canada's three pre-tournament exhibition games, a 7-6 defeat of Sweden on Wednesday and a 1-0 defeat of the Czech Republic on Sunday. He had a goal and an assist Saturday in a 7-1 defeat of Belarus.

Forward Lawson Crouse (Florida Panthers) and defenseman Joe Hicketts (Detroit Red Wings) were named alternate captains. They also played on the 2015 WJC team.

"These three players have set a tremendous example for the rest of our team from the start of our camp," Canada coach Dave Lowry said. "The leadership, work ethic and attention to detail shown by Brayden, Lawson and Joe are the standard for their teammates."

Canada opens play at the 2016 WJC on Saturday against the United States (1 p.m. ET; NHLN), and also will play Sweden, Switzerland and Denmark in Group A preliminary-round games.