Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane will serve as the United States men’s national hockey team’s captain at next month’s World Championship, the team announced Monday. It’ll be Kane’s first Worlds tournament appearance since 2008.
Team USA took sixth in 2008. That was also the last year Chicago did not make the Stanley Cup playoffs prior to this year. After a four-game first-round exit in 2017, Kane “gave it serious consideration” but decided against playing in the tournament.
Kane, 29, previously played for Team USA at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The Buffalo, New York native has six goals and 15 assists in 22 games for Team USA.
Kane will be joined on Team USA by Chicago teammates Alex DeBrincat and defenseman Connor Murphy.
DeBrincat, 20, scored one goal in five games during the 2016 World Junior Championship, but was left off Team USA’s roster for the following year’s tournament.
Murphy, 25, captained the U.S. team at last year’s Worlds — his fourth straight appearance in the tournament. He has four goals and three assists in 33 career games at Worlds.
Chicago forward Nick Schmaltz is still deciding if he’ll play for the U.S. at Worlds, while forward Brandon Saad said he will not play in the tournament and focus on his offseason training and upcoming wedding in July.
The U.S. has only won the Worlds tournament twice in 1933 and 1960.