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Plekanec named Czech World Cup captain

Tampa Bay Lightning v Montreal Canadiens - Game One

Tampa Bay Lightning v Montreal Canadiens - Game One

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The Czechs are going with a familiar face to spearhead their leadership group at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey.

Tomas Plekanec, who captained the team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the most recent world championship, will wear the “C” this fall, the Czech Ice Hockey Association announced on Monday.

Plekanec, 33, has a wealth of leadership experience to draw on, having also served as an alternate captain in Montreal for the last two seasons. He’s expected to be a key catalyst for an underdog Czech team at this tournament, especially in the playmaking department -- last year, Plekanec’s 40 assists came within five of a career-best for helpers in a single season.

It’ll be interesting to see who the Czechs eventually add to their leadership group next to Plekanec.

One would assume that David Krejci -- who’s been an alternate in Boston for the last three years -- should be in the mix, along with Coyotes center Martin Hanzal (an alternate in Arizona since 2011).