Canada has announced their leadership group for the 2024 World Juniors. Owen Beck & Matthew Poitras have been named alternate captains.
Peterborough Petes centre Owen Beck, and former Guelph Storm centre Matthew Poitras have been named assistant captains of Canada for the 2024 World Juniors.
Full list of captains:
C: Fraser Minten
A: Matthew Poitras
A: Matthew Savoie
A: Maveric Lamoureux
A: Owen Beck
For the Guelph Storm last season, Matthew Poitras wore an 'A' on his jersey as an eighteen-year old. Poitras is also the only player on Canada's roster to be sent straight from the NHL (Boston Bruins). Many other players have played games in the NHL this season, but were quickly sent back to major junior.
Poitras was able to make it stick in Boston, by fitting himself into a bottom-nine centre role. The Bruins are a team in high need of centre depth, and Poitras was able to help fill those holes by making the team out of training camp.
The leadership capabilities are evident on-and-off the ice from Poitras.
Owen Beck does not wear a letter for the Peterborough Petes, but he is the sole returning player on Canada's roster. He was able to join the team mid-tournament last year due to injuries, and experience the medal rounds. Though he didn't get much ice-time, his experience is still very valuable to this group. Several players have mentioned that Beck's has helped this team prepare for the tournament.
Beck is a Montreal second-round pick, and the nineteen-year-old will play in his last World Junior tournament. He will have all the opportunity to make the Habs roster next season, after likely finishing out his major junior career in Peterborough this year.
Poitras and Beck will not only get to represent Canada as World Junior players, but as great junior leaders as well.