USA Hockey on Wednesday tabbed Yale’s Keith Allain to serve as head coach for the U.S. team defending its gold medal at the 2011 World Junior Championship.

It’s the third tour of duty as U.S. junior team head coach for Allain, who in three seasons behind the Bulldog bench has led his alma mater to two ECAC Hockey regular-season titles and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. Allain piloted the U.S. team to fifth-place showings at the World Junior Championships in 2001 and 2002.

Joining Allain on the U.S. coaching staff as assistants are newly hired Ohio State head coach Mark Osiecki, U.S. National Team Development Program goaltending coach and former Merrimack standout Joe Exter, and Stillwater (Minn.) H.S. head coach and longtime NHL star Phil Housley.

The 2011 World Junior Championship runs from Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Buffalo.