Brayden Yager will wear the “C” for Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. The Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick and current Winnipeg Jets prospect will return for his second go at the WJC. Also wearing letters for Canada are Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk and Colorado Avalanche draft pick Calum Ritchie, who will both serve as alternate captains.

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“I am honored to be named captain of Team Canada for the World Juniors on a team with so many great leaders, and I am excited for our group to take the ice in Ottawa and continue working towards our goal of winning a gold medal on home ice,” Yager said in a statement released by Hockey Canada. “Tanner and Calum are great players and teammates that are deserving of this honor, and I look forward to serving on the leadership group with them and wearing the Maple Leaf with pride in front of Canadian fans.”

Yager, who was recently traded to the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL, has been one of the top players in the CHL over the last few years. He has 284 points in 234 games over five seasons in the WHL, played primarily with the Moose Jaw Warriors before being dealt to Lethbridge.

Meet the captains! / Voici nos capitaines! 🇨🇦

C: Brayden Yager (@WHLHurricanes)
A: Tanner Molendyk (@BladesHockey)
A: Calum Ritchie (@Oshawa_Generals)#WorldJuniors | #MondialJunior pic.twitter.com/LqJoREpnFz

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 19, 2024

Yager finished second on Canada’s roster at last year’s World Juniors, posting five points over five games amid a disappointing end in the quarterfinals. In 2022, Yager was an alternate captain for Canada at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup where he was a top scorer and helped lead Canada to the tournament title.

Selected 14th overall by Pittsburgh in 2023, Yager was part of a high-profile trade over the summer when the Penguins swapped top prospects with Winnipeg. The Saskatoon native got sent closer to home in exchange for 2022 14th overall pick Rutger McGroarty, who captained Team USA to gold at last year’s WJC.

The Jets sent Yager back for his final season of junior eligibility, but he is expected to be one of the team’s most important future assets.

Molendyk is back with Team Canada after getting injured just before the tournament after making the final roster. The Saskatoon Blades blueliner is averaging a point per game in the WHL this season and is expected to play a large role with big minutes and power-play time for Canada. His being injured last year was a big blow to Canada’s defense corps.

Ritchie, picked 27th overall by Colorado in 2023, is in the midst of an impressive season. He started the year with the Avs, appearing in seven games and scored his first NHL goal. Now back with Oshawa, he has been one of the OHL’s most productive players since his return with 34 points in just 18 games. He has played for Canada internationally at the U18 level twice, once at the U18 World Championship and at the 2022 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup where he led Canada in scoring with 10 points.

How To Watch The 2025 World Junior Championship

The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship will air on TSN and RDS on television in Canada. The tournament will be streamed on TSN+ in Canada, as well. 

In the United States, NHL Network will be the television home of the World Junior Championship. Streaming information for USA is not currently available.

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