Eichel added to U.S. team for World Championship

Boston University freshman center Jack Eichel, projected to be one of the first players picked at the 2015 NHL Draft, was added to the United States team for the 2015 IIHF World Championship, USA Hockey announced Saturday.

Eichel, who won the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in college hockey, had 26 goals and 45 assists in 40 games. He led all college hockey players in assists, points (71), power-play points (23) and plus/minus rating (plus-51). His 1.77 point-per-game average is the best by a college freshman since Paul Kariya of the University of Maine in 1992-93 averaged 2.56 points per game (100 points in 39 games).

He also helped Boston University win the Hockey East Tournament -- Eichel was named tournament MVP -- and reach the NCAA title game.

Eichel also was the captain for the United States at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship. He had one goal and four points in five games to help the U.S. finish fifth.

The World Championship will be held May 1-17 in Ostrava and Prague in the Czech Republic.