Surrey's Tyler Wotherspoon will be skating with the best players in the world over the Christmas break after he earned a spot with Canada's National Junior Team.

The Portland Winterhawks defenceman was among 23 players who were selected to play for the home and native land at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, Russia beginning on Boxing Day.

Surrey native and Edmonton Oil Kings goaltender Laurent Brossoit was one of the final cuts from the Canadian team.

Canada's National Junior Team departed for Europe on Dec. 15 and will play in two pre-competition games in Helsinki, Finland prior to the World Junior tourney.

Canada will play its first game of the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day, Dec. 26 against Finland, a game that will be broadcast live by TSN.

Canada has medalled at 14 consecutive IIHF World Junior Championships, including gold medal performances in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, silver medals in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010 and 2011 and bronze medals in 2000, 2001 and 2012.