Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews has been named one of Team Canada’s alternate captains for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey. Canada GM Doug Armstrong announced that Toews and Shea Weber will be the alternates while Penguins star Sidney Crosby will be the captain.
Cue angry Blackhawks fans wondering why a two-time Cup winner like Crosby gets the captaincy over a THREE-TIME CUP WINNER like Toews.
Anyway, good for Toews, even if he’s an alternate to Crosby. You really could not have gone wrong with either one, so Canada deciding to let Crosby — probably the best player in the game — fill the captaincy is quite alright. Toews, Crosby and Weber, no matter who fills what role, is quite the top three in experienced leadership for an international team. Toews was also an alternate captain for Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
The eight-team World Cup of Hockey tournament begins Sept. 17 in Toronto. Toews will be joined on Team Canada by Blackhawks teammate Corey Crawford. Defenseman Duncan Keith was previously on the roster, but pulled out to focus on rehabbing his right knee following last year’s torn meniscus surgery.