Modano named U.S. hockey team captain

ROSENHEIM, Germany, April 28 (UPI) -- Mike Modano has been named captain of Team USA in the world hockey championships.

The announcement was made Thursday in Germany, where the team has been playing exhibitions prior to the start of the championships in Austria.

Modano, 34, an all-star center for the Dallas Stars, is playing in the world event for the third time.

"Mike is a player our team looks up to," Coach Peter Laviolette said. "He leads both on and off the ice and that is extremely important."

The U.S. team begins play Sunday in the world event, taking on Slovenia.