Kaiden Guhle named Canada's captain for 2022 world juniors

Montreal Canadiens prospect Kaiden Guhle has been named Team Canada's captain for the 2022 World Junior Championship, according to TSN.

St. Louis Blues winger Jake Neighbours and Winnipeg Jets center Cole Perfetti will complete Canada's leadership group as alternate captains.

Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby broke the news to the team in a video message after practice Monday.

All three players were first-round picks in the 2020 draft. Perfetti and Guhle helped Canada earn a silver medal at the 2021 world juniors. Guhle had two goals and one assist in seven games, while Perfetti - the only forward returning to this year's roster - put up six points.

Neighbours and Guhle are teammates with the Western Hockey League's Edmonton Oil Kings. Guhle, who joined Edmonton in a trade from the Prince Albert Raiders earlier in December, has 18 points in 20 games this season. Neighbours has five goals and 13 assists in 10 contests.

Perfetti has played in two NHL games so far this season with the Jets and has yet to register a point.

Guhle was one of the final cuts from Canadiens training camp before the 2021-22 campaign.

Canada kicks off its tournament on Dec. 26 against the Czech Republic.