COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League announced Friday that two players have been released by Canada’s National Junior Team and will be returning immediately to their respective club teams.

The players released Friday evening were defenceman Damon Severson (Melville, Sask./Kelowna, WHL) and forward Hunter Shinkaruk (Calgary, Alta./Medicine Hat, WHL).

Canada’s roster is now at 23 players, including two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 14 forwards. One more player will be released to get Canada down to the maximum of 22 players for the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship. Once those 22 players have been registered officially with the International Ice Hockey Federation, no changes can be made to that roster.

Canada’s National Junior Team played its first of three pre-tournament games today, beating Finland 4-2 in Ängelholm, Sweden. Canada has two more pre-tournament games, on Dec. 22 against Sweden and Dec. 23 against Switzerland. All of Canada’s pre-tournament games are being 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.

NOTE TO MEDIA: André Brin will be with the team through the pre-competition camp and the IIHF World Junior Championship. All interview requests can be directed to [email protected]. Requests will be accommodated when possible, within the team’s schedule and the time difference. 

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.