Like their teammate Dillon Dube, both Calvin Thurkauf and Tomas Soustal won't be back with the Kelowna Rockets until the new year.
On Thursday, Thurkauf was named to Switzerland's final roster for the world junior hockey championship, while Soutsal made the final cut for the Czech Republic.
On Wednesday, Dube was one of 22 players named to Team Canada for the 2017 tournament.
Thurkauf left the Rockets to join the Swiss team just as he was named the WHL’s player of the week, with eight goals and 10 points in a four-game span. He now has 17 goals and 14 assists for 31 points in 28 games this season so far.
Soustal has been consistent all season, showing chemistry with current Rockets points' leader Kole Lind. Soustal has 12 goals and 19 assists in 32 games this season.
The world junior hockey championship begins Boxing Day in Montreal and Toronto.
Soustal and the Czech Republic take on team Finland on Dec. 26, 2 p.m. Pacific time.
Thurkauf and the Swiss don’t play until the following day, Dec. 27, when they take on Soustal and the Czechs at 10 a.m.
The Rockets will be missing Thurkauf, Soustal, and Dube for their final three games before Christmas as they complete a seven-game road trip, ending Sunday in Edmonton against the Oil Kings.