Chabot to wear an 'A' for Team Canada

Saint John Sea Dogs defenceman Thomas Chabot has been named an alternate captain of Canada's National Junior Team.

Chabot will wear an 'A' on his sweater along with Mathew Barzal of the Seattle Thunderbirds. Dylan Strome of the Erie Otters will captain the team.

“We have eight players on this team who are captains of their club teams, and numerous other associate captains, so there is an abundance of leadership,” said Dominique Ducharme, head coach of Team Canada, in a press release. “Dylan, Mat and Thomas have been through this tournament before, and we have confidence in their ability to lead this team on and off the ice.”

It's no surprise to see Chabot wearing a letter at this year's tournament as the Ottawa Senators prospect will get plenty of ice time as a veteran on the backend. This will be Chabot's second World Junior Hockey Championship after recording three assists in five games last year.

Team Canada plays the first of three exhibition games tonight at the Bell Centre against Finland. The team will play the Czech Republic in Ottawa on Wednesday and Switzerland on Friday in Toronto to wrap up pre-tournament play. All games will be broadcast on TSN.

Canada begins tournament play on Boxing Day in Toronto against Russia.

Along with Chabot, Team Canada features Sea Dog Mathieu Joseph. Dogs defenceman Jakub Zboril is on the Czech team which, as Euro Hockey notes, is unlikely to medal this year.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation