HELSINKI, Finland — Sophomore forward Cole Bardreau has not only made the final cut for the U.S. National Team's roster for the upcoming 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia, but USA Hockey announced Sunday morning that he will also serve as one of the alternate captains for the event.
 
The U.S. squad has completed two pre-tournament games in Finland against the host Finns and Sweden. Bardreau played in both games as the center of a shutdown line aimed at minimizing the opposition's top scorers. The IIHF World Junior Championship runs from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.
 
Bardreau was one of 45 players to attend the 2012 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp in August in Lake Placid, N.Y. He was then one of the 34 players that survived the mid-camp cut and has had a strong start to the 2012-13 season with the Big Red, posting a power-play goal and four assists for five points through 11 games. He's also no stranger to the national team's junior teams. A product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, Bardreau won a gold medal with the U.S. in the IIHF U18 World Championships in April 11, having also played in the 2010 U17 World Hockey Challenge.
 
Cornell has started to become a consistent presence in USA Hockey's selection process for the World Junior Squad. Goalie Andy Iles earned a bronze medal with the U.S. in the 2011 event in Buffalo, then forward Brian Ferlin was selected to the preliminary roster for last year's tournament.

This year's roster has been trimmed to 24, with one more cut yet to be announced. That roster move will be made after a medical issue is addressed among the team's defensemen, head coach Phil Housley said in a release. Jake McCabe (Wisconsin) has been named captain, will Bardreau serving as one of four alternates. Bardreau and Jacob Trouba (Michigan) will wear the 'A' with one jersey color, while Seth Jones (WHL Portland) and J.T. Miller (AHL Connecticut) will serve as alternate captains when the U.S. is wearing the other jersey color.