Recent Ducks draft picks Kyle Palmieri and Jake Gardiner were selected by USA Hockey to the national team roster for a seven-game series against Russia this week.

The players are auditioning for a spot on the U.S. National Junior Team that will take part in the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.

Gardiner, a 6-foot-2 defenseman from the University of Wisconsin, was the Ducks’ first-round pick (17th overall) in 2008. Palmieri, a 5-11 forward from the U.S. Under-18 team, was chosen 26th overall by the Ducks in the most recent entry draft in June.