Tomas Plekanec named Czech captain for World Cup of Hockey

Tomas Plekanec has been chosen captain of the Czech Republic's team for the World Cup of Hockey.

Plekanec was the Czech captain at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and the 2012 and 2016 world hockey championships. He has been the Montreal Canadiens' alternate captain for the past two seasons.

The 33-year-old centre has 216 goals and 337 assists in 843 NHL games, including 54 points last season. He has 25 goals and 30 assists in 81 games of international play.

The Czech Republic is one of eight teams in the World Cup of Hockey, which begins Sept. 17 in Toronto.