Ducks loan Smith-Pelly to Canada's world junior team

Devante Smith-Pelly is getting a chance to represent Canada at the 2012 IIHF world junior hockey championship.

The Anaheim Ducks announced Thursday that the rookie right-winger is being loaned to Hockey Canada for its selection camp for the tournament from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Calgary and Edmonton.

Smith-Pelly was not on Canada's 2011 roster.

"This is a great opportunity for Devante to continue his development," Ducks general manager Bob Murray said in a statement. "Being a candidate for Team Canada in such a prestigious tournament is a great honour. 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 three goals and two assists in 26 games with Anaheim this season. He was selected by the Ducks in the second round, 42nd overall, in the 2010 entry draft.

The Toronto native played three seasons with the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey League, scoring 78 goals and adding 75 assists in 184 career games.

He had 21 points in 20 playoff games last season as the Majors finished as runner-up to the Saint John Sea Dogs in the Memorial Cup.