The 32-year-old from Lethbridge, Alta., plays for the Swiss team Rapperswil-Jona and will lead Canada as it seeks to win the tournament for the first time since 2003.
Canada's alternate captains will be Edmonton native Jason Strudwick, Jay Harrison of Oshawa, Ont., Calgary's Dominic Pittis and Tyler Wright of Canora, Sask.
Roest played 244 NHL games with Detroit and Minnesota before moving to Europe in 2003.