The 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament gets underway for Team Canada today, and Team Canada will be led into action by Owen Sound Attack rearguard Markus Phillips.

Phillips, entering his 2nd year in the Ontario Hockey League, has been named Captain of the Canadian entry for the U18 tournament which will take place from August 8 to 13 in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

After playing with Team Canada's squad at the IIHF World U18 Tournament in the spring as an underage player, Phillips impressed many at Hockey Canada's Summer Showcase and was named Captain of the squad as a result.

This stint as Captain of the Canadian National Team is the 2nd for Phillips in his young career. During the 2015 World Under 17 Challenge, the 5'11, 210 pound blue liner was the captain of Team Canada Red.

Drafted 9th overall by the Attack in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection, Phillips scored three times while adding nine assists over 63 games in his rookie season.

Phillips' assistant captains at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament are Antoine Crete-Belzile of the Blainville-Broisbrian Armada of the QMJHL and fellow OHLer Owen Tippet of the Mississauga Steelheads.

Also representing the Attack at the tournament is sniper Nick Suzuki, who was the only 16 year old to amass 20 or more goals in the OHL in 2015-16.

Canada opens their tournament against Slovakia at 11:30am and fans can follow all of the action here: http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/Team-Canada/Men/Under-18/2016-17/Ivan-Hlinka-Memorial-Cup/Schedule-Results 

source: media release, Owen Sound Attack