The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect was also named captain of the Kamloops Blazers before being traded to Saskatoon.
Team Canada has announced their leadership group ahead of the 2024 World Juniors with two WHLers set to wear letters. Wenatchee Wild and Buffalo Sabres prospect Matthew Savoie will wear an "A," while Saskatoon Blades and Toronto Maple Leaf prospect Fraser Minten has been named captain of the U20 team. This is the second time Minten will wear the "C" this season after being named captain of the Kamloops Blazers before being dealt to Saskatoon.
With the announcement, Minten becomes the first WHLer since Dillon Dubé in 2018 to be named the only captain of Team Canada. In 2021, the captaincy was split between Bowen Byram, Kirby Dach and Dylan Cozens when the tournament was held in Edmonton. The decision to rotate the "C" was made after Dach, who was named team captain, suffered an injury before the tournament started and could not represent his country.
The WHL has a long history of players captaining Canada to Gold at the World Juniors. Some include Curtis Lazar in 2015, Thomas Hickey in 2009, Karl Alzner in 2008 and Nolan Baumgartner in 1996. While leading his country to a third straight Gold Medal will not be easy, Minten has shown he can lead by example and show up when his team needs him the most.
Team Canada's group stage schedule for the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship:
Dec 26: Canada vs Finland- 5:30 AM PT
Dec 27: Canada vs Latvia- 10:30 AM PT
Dec 29: Canada vs Sweden- 10:30 AM PT
Dec 31: Canada vs Germany- 10:30 AM PT
