COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – Josh Sweeney (Phoenix, Ariz.) has been named captain of the 2014-15 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team, USA Hockey announced today. Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.) and Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.) have been selected as alternate captains.

“Josh has provided great leadership to our team, both on and off ice,” said Dan Brennan, general manager of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. “His dedication and hard work sets a tremendous standard for our other players. Nikko and Josh are terrific players and leaders in their own right. They compete with great passion and have a wealth of international experience.”

Sweeney, a forward, is in his fourth season as a member of the U.S. National Sled Team. An alternate captain a season ago, he scored the lone goal in Team USA’s 1-0 win over Russia in the gold-medal game of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Overall, he posted four goals and four assists in 12 games during the 2013-14 season. This past summer, Sweeney received the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2014 ESPY Awards. During his career, he has nine goals and 14 assists in 23 games.

Landeros is entering his sixth campaign as a defenseman with Team USA. Last season, he notched a goal and six assists, five of which he tallied during the gold-medal run at the 2014 Paralympics. He also helped Team USA earn gold at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 77 career games, Landeros has accumulated 20 goals and 40 points.

Pauls, a defenseman, is embarking on his seventh season as a member of the U.S. National Sled Team. A forward the previous two seasons, Pauls has been among Team USA’s leading scorers. In 2013-14, he was second on the squad with 11 points (5-6—11) as Team USA captured gold at the 2014 Paralympics. He tallied a team-high 20 points (9-11—20) in 2012-13. Pauls was a part of Team USA’s gold-medal squad at the 2010 Paralympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 87 career games, he has recorded 21 goals and 46 points.

The 2014-15 season gets underway this weekend (Oct. 2-4) with a training camp in Arlington, Virginia, at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, practice facility of the NHL’s Washington Capitals.

NOTES: The 2014-15 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team includes 17 players. Eleven return from the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team that won gold in Sochi, Russia, including goaltender Steve Cash (Overland, Mo.); defensemen Tyler Carron (Fort Collins, Colo.), Nikko Landeros (Johnstown, Colo.) and Josh Pauls (Green Brook, N.J.); and forwards Declan Farmer (Tampa, Fla.), Dan McCoy (Cheswick, Pa.), Kevin McKee (Davenport, Iowa), Adam Page (Lancaster, N.Y.), Paul Schaus (Buffalo, N.Y.), Josh Sweeney (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Brody Roybal (Northlake, Ill.) … Over the last five major International Paralympic Committee events, Team USA has won four gold medals (2010 and 2014 Paralympics, 2009 and 2012 World Championships) and one silver medal (2013 World Championship) … Dan Brennan (Colorado Springs, Colo.), director of sled and inline national teams for USA Hockey, is serving as the general manager of the 2014-15 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team. Jeff Sauer (Madison, Wis.) is in his fourth season as head coach for the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team … Additional staff members include team physician Mike Uihlein (Grafton, Wis.), athletic trainer Mike Cortese (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and equipment manager Joel Isaacson (Houghton, Mich.).