The Anaheim Ducks have loaned right wing Devante Smith-Pelly to Hockey Canada for the upcoming 2012 World Junior Championship from Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Calgary and Edmonton.
"This is a great opportunity for Devante to continue his development," executive vice president and GM Bob Murray said in a statement Thursday. "Being a candidate for Team Canada in such a prestigious tournament is a great honor. He's improving each day as an NHL player and we hope he can continue his progress after playing for his country. We fully expect him to play a prominent role in the upcoming tournament for Canada.”
Smith-Pelly, 19, has played in 26 games with Anaheim this season, scoring three goals and five points with 10 penalty minutes and a plus-4 rating. The 6-foot, 213-pounder scored his first NHL goal on Nov. 9 against Nashville.
The Ducks selected the Scarborough, Ont., native in the second round (No. 42) of the 2010 NHL Draft. He had 78 goals and 153 points in 184 games during three seasons with Mississauga-St. Michael's of the Ontario Hockey League, and added 21 points in 20 playoff games last spring as the Majors advanced to the Memorial Cup Final.