Boston University freshman Jack Eichel was named captain of the United States National Junior Team that will compete in Montreal and Toronto at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, according to USA Hockey.
Forward John Hayden (Chicago Blackhawks) and defenseman Will Butcher (Colorado Avalanche) will serve as alternates.
Considered a top-two pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, Eichel scored a shorthanded goal and had four shots on goal to help lead the U.S. to a 5-2 win against Boston University in a Dec. 19 exhibition game. The 6-foot-1 center hit the Christmas break as the NCAA leader with 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists) and a 1.69 points-per-game average in 16 games. He had one goal and four assists in five games for the fifth-place U.S. team in last year's tournament.
The United States opens the 2015 WJC on Dec. 26 against defending champion Finland at Bell Centre in Montreal (3 p.m. ET; NHLN/NHL.com).
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