Ray Whitney, the grizzled veteran on a team full of youngsters, has been handed the captaincy of Team Canada in the wake of Ryan Smyth’s fractured ankle.
Whitney was the logical choice after Smyth went down with the injury, even if it’s not a role he’s normally taken during his hockey career. Perhaps it was more out of process of elimination as Whitney is suddenly the most experienced player on the team -- by far.
“He’s still with us, we still think about him,” said Whitney. “As for the captaincy, I think they could have went to any of the four [alternate captains -- Steven Stamkos, Corey Perry Francois Beauchemin and Whitney]. You could have picked a lot of guys.
“Maybe it’s because I am the oldest that it fell my way.”