COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League announced Sunday that Felix Girard (Lévis, Que./Baie-Comeau, QMJHL) has been released by Canada’s National Junior Team and will be returning immediately to his club team.

Canada’s roster is now at 22 players for the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship, including two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwards. Once those 22 players have been officially registered with the International Ice Hockey Federation, no changes can be made to the roster.

Seven WHL players and one WHL alumnus are among the 22-man Team Canada roster, including defencemen Josh Morrissey, Derrick Pouliot and Griffin Reinhart, and forwards Curtis Lazar, Taylor Leier, Nicolas Petan and Sam Reinhart.  Defenceman Mathew Dumba, who currently plays in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild, is also on Team Canada.  Dumba’s WHL rights were acquired by the Portland Winterhawks from the Red Deer Rebels earlier this month.

Canada’s National Junior Team has played two if its three pre-tournament games, falling to Sweden 3-0 earlier today in Ängelholm, Sweden, after defeating Finland 4-2 on Dec. 20. Its final pre-tournament game, Dec. 23 against Switzerland, will be broadcast live by Hockey Canada’s official broadcasters, TSN and RDS.

The 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship gets underway on Dec. 26, with Canada facing Germany at 7:30 a.m. ET/4:30 a.m. PT. All of Canada’s games will be carried live on both TSN and RDS. Check local listings for times and details in your broadcast area.

For more information on Hockey Canada, the Program of Excellence and Canada’s National Junior Team, go to www.hockeycanada.ca, or follow along through social media at www.facebook.com/hockeycanada, www.twitter.com/hockeycanada and www.twitter.com/hc_men.

WHL PLAYERS ON TEAM CANADA

F – Curtis Lazar, Edmonton Oil Kings
F – Taylor Leier, Portland Winterhawks
F – Nicolas Petan, Portland Winterhawks
F – Sam Reinhart, Kootenay Ice
D – Josh Morrissey, Prince Albert Raiders
D – Derrick Pouliot, Portland Winterhawks
D – Griffin Reinhart, Edmonton Oil Kings

*D – Mathew Dumba, Minnesota Wild (WHL rights belong to Portland Winterhawks)