The youngest player on the Red Wings will not be heading to his home province to represent his country in the upcoming World Junior Championship.

Per GM Ken Holland, forward Michael Rasmussen will not be on Team Canada for the upcoming U20 tournament.

He has been one of the Wings’ best forwards as of late and they will not want to lose him possibly for a month to this tournament. The Vancouver, BC native has only represented Canada once in his early career – at the World Hockey U17 Championship.

With the Wings this season, Rasmussen a total of five goals and nine points in just 26 games for the NHL club. Averaging just over thirteen minutes a night, it averages out to a pretty consistent and impressive rate for a rookie. Three of his tallies have come on the man advantage.

Let’s hope the Wings use the rookie’s time effectively while they are keeping him in Detroit.