Ryan Leonard has a new nickname: Captain America.
The 19-year-old winger was named captain of Team USA at the 2025 World Junior Championship on Friday. He is the first Washington Capitals prospect since Martin Fehervary (Slovakia, 2019) to captain their nation at a World Juniors.
Leonard will be joined in the team’s leadership group by alternate captains Zeev Buium, Oliver Moore, Danny Nelson, and Gabe Perreault.
The 2025 tournament is Leonard’s second opportunity at an under-20 gold medal after he helped the US take one home last year. Leonard had six points (3g, 3a) in seven games as an 18-year-old and scored a goal in the final against Sweden.
Leonard has already been serving in a leadership role this season as an alternate captain with the Boston College Eagles. He has 19 points (12g, 7a) in 16 games for the Eagles this season, and his 12 goals are tied for first in the nation.
Several current Capitals, who Leonard will likely join at the end of his college season this year, have previously been captains at the World Juniors. Fehervary, Dylan Strome (Canada, 2017), Nicklas Backstrom (Sweden, 2007), and Alex Ovechkin (Russia, 2005) all led their nations.
John Carlson (USA, 2010), Fehervary (Slovakia, 2018), Rasmus Sandin (Sweden, 2020), Connor McMichael (Canada, 2021), and Ryan Chesley (USA, 2024) have also been alternate captains at the tournament.
