Kings’ Jack Johnson named captain of U.S. national team at world championship

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Kings defenseman Jack Johnson was named captain of the 2010 U.S. National Team for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Men’s Championship, which gets underway Friday in Cologne, Gelsenkirchen and Mannheim, Germany.

Johnson has represented the U.S. seven previous times, most recently at the Vancouver Olympics, where he helped lead the U.S. to a silver medal. He was also a member of Team USA at two IIHF World Men’s Championships (2007 and 2009), two IIHF World Junior Championships (2006 and 2007) and two IIHF World Men’s Under-18 Championships (2004 and 2005).

Kings defenseman Matt Greene is one of four alternate captains. The others are Nick Foligno of the Ottawa Senators, Eric Nystrom of the Calgary Flames and Kyle Okposo of the New York Islanders.

The U.S. opens against host Germany at Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The game is a sellout -- 76,152 -- and will set the world hockey attendance record.

-- Debbie Goffa