Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux will wear another 'C' this month.

On Thursday, Giroux was named captain of Canada's entry at the IIHF World Championship. Colorado Avalanche centre Matt Duchene, Buffalo Sabres centre Ryan O'Reilly and San Jose Sharks defenceman Marc-Edouard Vlasic were named alternates.

“Our team is oozing with leadership, and a number of players could have worn a letter,” said Canada coach Jon Cooper in a statement. “However, this group will be led by our captain Claude Giroux, who has helped put Team Canada on the podium at several international tournaments.”

Canada opens its tournament on Friday in Cologne, Germany against the Czech Republic.

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Cooper believes his team is ready to go.

"This team has bonded quickly, so the guys are having a lot of fun together, now it’s time to turn it up a notch against the Czechs,” Cooper said. “That’s a tough one right out of the gate for us. We’ve had three of four practices and a game, not a lot of time to prepare, but we’re looking forward to playing for real. The guys are excited.”

Giroux is expecting formidable opposition for the Czechs, led by his Flyers teammate Jakub Voracek.

“They’re a good team; they have a lot of skills, they have a big team," Giroux said. "For us, it’s about focusing on our game, our systems, and how we want to play as a team.” 

Canada is looking for a third straight world championship triumph.