Hockey Canada has named Dylan Strome as its captain for the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship, while forward Mathew Barzal and Thomas Chabot will serve as alternate captains.

"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," Team Canada coach Dominique Ducharme said in a statement. "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."

Strome, 19, was part of last year's entry at the world juniors, recording four goals and two assists in five games. Drafted third overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2015, Strome made his NHL debut this season, tallying one point in seven games. He has since been returned to his junior club, the OHL's Erie Otters, where he has recorded 16 points in seven games. He scored 111 points in 56 games with the Otters last season.

The 19-year-old Barzal was also on last year's Canadian roster, scoring three points in five games. A first-round selection by the New York Islanders in 2015, Barzal appeared in two NHL games this season. Drafted from the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds, the center has scored 19 points in 13 games with Seattle this season. He scored 88 points in 58 games with the Thunderbirds in 2015-16.

Chabot, 19, is also a returnee from last year's tournament, where he tallied three assists in five games with Team Canada. A 2015 first-round pick by the Ottawa Senators, Chabot played one NHL game this season before returning to the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL. The defenseman has scored 20 points in 14 games with Saint John this season after recording 45 points in 47 games last season.

Pre-tournament action begins Monday with Team Canada facing Finland. Canada also has two other exhibition games later in the week against the Czech Republic and Switzerland before opening round robin action on Dec. 26 vs. Team Russia.

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