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Jack Eichel will represent the United States at the 2019 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia next month, USA Hockey announced Thursday.
Eichel was one of 17 players included on Team USA's preliminary roster. South Buffalo native Patrick Kane will captain the team, while former Sabres captain Chris Drury is serving as general manager.

It will be Eichel's first appearance on the international stage since 2017, when he tallied five assists in eight games at the World Championship in Germany and France. His long affiliation with USA Hockey dates to 2012, when he joined the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Eichel made his Worlds debut as an 18-year-old in 2015, when he tallied seven points in 10 games and came home with a bronze medal. His international resume includes a gold medal at the 2014 U18 World Junior Championship and two appearances at U20 World Juniors with Team USA.
Eichel is coming off a career-best campaign with the Sabres in which he tallied personal highs in goals (28), assists (54) and multi-point games (27). His 82 points were the most by a Sabre since Daniel Briere (95) and Thomas Vanek (84) in 2006-07.
On Wednesday, he was announced as the Sabres' nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.
Team USA opens its preliminary-round schedule against host country Slovakia on May 10 at 2:15 p.m. The full preliminary round schedule is below, with all games airing on NHL Network (all times Eastern):
Friday, May 10 vs. Slovakia - 2:15 p.m.
Sunday, May 12 vs. France - 6:15 a.m.
Monday, May 13 vs. Finland - 10:15 a.m.
Wednesday, May 15 vs. Great Britain - 10:15 a.m.
Saturday, May 18 vs. Denmark - 6:15 a.m.
Sunday, May 19 vs. Germany - 10:15 a.m.