STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Hockey Canada, along with head coach Lindy Ruff, announced Thursday that forward Eric Staal (Thunder Bay, Ont./Carolina, NHL) will serve as captain of Canada’s National Men’s Team at the 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Stockholm, Sweden. The event gets underway on May 3, with Canada opening up against Denmark on May 4. All of Canada’s games will be carried live TSN and RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada. Check your local listings for game times in your area.

Hockey Canada also announced that Andrew Ladd (Maple Ridge, B.C./Winnipeg, NHL) and Stéphane Robidas (Sherbrooke, Que./Dallas, NHL) will serve as alternate captains. 

Staal, 28, is taking part in his second world championship, having won gold at the 2007 IIHF World Championship. Staal also won gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and a Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006, making him a member of the IIHF’s exclusive Triple Gold Club. Staal is also captain of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.

Ladd, 27, is taking part in his third consecutive world championship. He won a gold medal with Canada at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship, and has won two Stanley Cups, with Carolina in 2006 and Chicago in 2010. Ladd is captain of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets.

Robidas, 36, is taking part in his third world championship, having played in 2001 and 2007.  A veteran of 847 NHL games, Robidas is an alternate captain with the NHL’s Dallas Stars.

Ruff (Warburg, Alta.) leads the coaching staff, along with assistant coaches Doug Shedden (Wallaceburg, Ont./EV Zug, SUI), Dave Tippett (Moosomin, Sask./Phoenix, NHL) and Barry Trotz (Dauphin, Man./Nashville, NHL). 

The 2013 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship runs from May 3-19 in Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden. Canada will be based out of Stockholm for the duration of the event.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Team, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow along via social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada  and www.twitter.com/hc_men .