(Walpole, MA) -- With a menacing left shot, Moscow native and Express forward Georgiy Gurianov was named to the preliminary roster for the Russian U20 Jr. national team. He’ll play four exhibition games August 11th, 12th, 14th and 15th against the USA Jr. national team in Lake Placid, N.Y.

“Georgiy has been in training camp with the Russian team since July 9th and he will now get the chance to play at the highest level of junior hockey in the world,” said Express GM Tony Dalessio.

“This is a great opportunity for Georgiy,” Dalessio continued. “Mark [Kumpel] and I are excited that he will have the chance to represent his country for the first time in his young career. He worked so hard last season to improve his game with an eye toward making his country’s Jr. national team. It was something he talked about often.”

The 2010 IIHF World U20 Championship will take place Dec. 26, 2009 – Jan. 5, 2010 in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.