HELSINGBORG, Sweden – Miami University sophomore forward Riley Barber may have earned the new nickname “Captain America” after he was named captain of the U.S. National Junior Team Sunday afternoon, Dec. 23, USA Hockey announced in preparation for the upcoming World Junior Championship in Malmo, Sweden. Barber is one of four National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) players to make the U.S roster, as the squad was trimmed down to 24 players on Sunday, as well.

Joining Barber (Pittsburgh, Pa.) on Team USA is University of Denver sophomore forward Quentin Shore (Denver, Colo.), his Pioneer teammate freshman defenseman Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wis.), and Colorado College freshman defenseman Jaccob Slavin (Erie, Colo.). The 2014 World Junior Championship runs from Dec. 26, 2013 to Jan. 5, 2014. The U.S. will cut one more forward following its opening contest at the tournament to trim the roster to the 23-man limit, pending an injury situation.

Barber helped the U.S. win the gold medal at last year’s World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia and is one of a handful of returning players from last year’s winning team. He has recorded an assist in each of Team USA’s last two pre-tournament games against Sweden and Finland. The Washington Capitals prospect is tied for second in the NCAA and first in the NCHC with 28 points for the RedHawks so far this season. Barber scored three goals and added three assists during the 2013 World Junior Championship when the U.S. won just its third gold ever at the tournament.

Slavin, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect, has recorded three assists in three pre-tournament games for Team USA, logging two helpers in an exhibition win over Minnesota State and another in an exhibition loss to host Sweden. Shore, a draft pick of the Ottawa Senators, tallied the first U.S. goal in the overtime win over the Mavericks in Mankato during the first part of training camp in Minneapolis.

The University of Michigan’s Andrew Copp and Boston University’s Matt Grzelcyk were tabbed alternate captains as the duo, along with Barber, captured an Under-18 World Championship together in 2012.

Slavin’s teammate at Colorado College, fellow freshman defenseman Gustav Olofsson, will also participate in the World Junior Championship, as he was the only NCAA player selected to Sweden’s final roster. Olofsson, who will play in front of his home country, and Sweden defeated the U.S. in an exhibition pre-tournament game Friday, Dec. 20.

The U.S. opens the 2014 World Junior Championship on Thursday, Dec. 26 at 11:30 a.m. ET (5:30 p.m. local) against the Czech Republic. The U.S. will also face Slovakia, Germany and Canada in group play. Sweden opens against Switzerland Dec. 26 and is in Group B along with the Swiss, Russia, Finland and Norway.

--NCHCHockey--