CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has announced that Jean Labonté (Hull, Que.) will serve as captain of the National Sledge Team for the 2009-10 season.

Labonté, who turned 40 earlier this year, will captain Canada’s 18-player team for a number of events this season, including two series against the United States in September and October, along with the 2009 World Sledge Hockey Challenge, which will be held in November. Labonté was also Canada’s captain since the 2007-08 season.

Hockey Canada also announced that Brad Bowden (Orton, Ont.) and Greg Westlake (Oakville, Ont.) have been named alternate captains. Bowden and Westlake form two-thirds of one of the top lines in sledge hockey. Billy Bridges (Summerside, P.E.I.) rounds out Canada’s top scoring line.

Canada’s National Sledge Team is in Calgary this week for a training camp and has been practicing at the Pengrowth Saddledome. The team will hit the ice on Thursday for its final practice of the week (12:30-1:30 p.m. MT).

Further details on the National Sledge Team’s 2009-10 season, which will culminate with the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C., will be released in the coming weeks.