FARGO, N.D. – Hockey Canada announced on Wednesday that Ryan O’Reilly (Varna, Ont./Erie, OHL) has been named captain of Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team for the 2009 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, which will be held April 9-19 in Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota.

In addition, it was also announced that Simon Després (Laval, Que./Saint John, QMJHL) and Garrett Mitchell (Regina, Sask./Regina, WHL) will serve as Canada’s alternate captains.

Canada defeated Slovakia 5-2 on Tuesday night in Minneapolis, Minn. to conclude its pre-competition schedule. The Canadians scored five unanswered goals to erase a pair of early Slovak goals en route to victory. On Sunday, Canada needed extra time to down Finland 6-5 in its pre-tournament opener.

Earlier Wednesday, National Men’s Under-18 Team departed Minneapolis, where it had taken part in a pre-tournament camp, and travelled to Fargo, site of the 2009 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. The defending gold medalists from Canada will hit the ice for their first preliminary round game on Thursday, April 9 against Germany (5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT). Canada is in Pool A with Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

TSN/RDS, the official broadcaster of Hockey Canada, will broadcast Canada’s final preliminary round game against Sweden on Tuesday, April 14, as well as a quarter-final on Wednesday, April 15 or Thursday, April 16, a semifinal on Friday, April 17 and the gold medal game on Sunday, April 19. The bronze medal game on April 19 will also be broadcast if Canada plays for bronze. Check your local listings for game times in your area.