Zach Werenski named captain of U.S. team for World Juniors

By @MichaelCaples –

USA Hockey has announced the player selected to lead his peers through the World Junior tournament in the next few weeks, and his name is rather familiar to the Michigan hockey audience.

Grosse Pointe native Zach Werenski, a sophomore defenseman at the University of Michigan, will wear the ‘C’ for Team USA at the prestigious international tournament. He becomes the second youngest player to ever be named captain of the U.S. squad for the World Juniors.

Louie Belpedio (Skokie, Ill./Miami University), Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz./ZSC Lions) and Colin White (Hanover, Mass./Boston College) will serve as assistant captains for the tournament. All four captains are National Team Development Program alums.

“We’re excited about our leadership group here in Finland,” said Ron Wilson, head coach of the 2016 U.S. National Junior Team. “Zach, Louie, Auston and Colin have led by example since day one in Lake Placid this August and have the respect of everybody in the room.”

Werenski will be the first Michigan-born captain since Kevin Porter led the U.S. squad in 2006. Before him, Michigan natives Adam Hall (2000), Mike York (Waterford) and Adam Burt (1989) all wore the ‘C’ – from a list that dates back to 1985.

Jack Eichel is the only player younger than Werenski to captain the U.S. team at the World Juniors.

A finalized roster for the World Junior team will be finalized by Dec. 24.