Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers skates during an NFL game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 2, 2019 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, U.S. /VCG Photo
The four captains for the next year's NHL All-Star Game have been chosen and unveiled on Saturday. Edmonton Oilers stalwart and NHL star Connor McDavid was voted the Pacific Division captain for the much-anticipated game for the fourth successive year.
The other three captains for the big ticket All-Star Game for the other three divisions will be the Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (Central Division) from the Western Conference, the Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (Metropolitan) and the Boston Bruins' David Pastrnak (Atlantic) from the East.
Each of the four captains from the two Conferences was selected by fan votes. The event will feature a four-team bracket of 3-on-3 games and will be held on January 25 next year in St. Louis. The remaining players (a total of 10 for each team) for the marquee game will be named by the NHL's hockey operations department.
McDavid, 22, has been leading the NHL in assists (39) and points (59) and will be making his fourth appearance as a captain in his five-season-long NHL career.
Colorado Avalanche Center Nathan MacKinnon skates with the puck during an NHL game between the Colorado Avalanche and the visiting Philadelphia Flyers on December 11, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, U.S. /VCG Photo
MacKinnon, 24, has been named the Central captain for the second time in row even though he did not play in last year's event due to injury. He entered Saturday ranked third in points with 53, including 21 goals.
Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals in action during an NHL game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 3, 2019 in New York City, U.S. /VCG Photo
The oldest captain among the four will be 34-year-old Ovechkin, who will captain the Metropolitan for the third successive season and he too didn't play in last year's event. He scored 22 goals and added 13 assists entering Saturday.
David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins skates during an NHL game against the Ottawa Senators at the TD Garden on December 27, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. /VCG Photo
The only debutant captain is 23-year-old Pastrnak, who entered Saturday with 28 goals in the season, four more than any other NHL player.
(With input from Reuters)