(Laval) The Laval Rocket announced that it has temporarily released defender Nicolas Beaudin so that he can participate in the Spengler Cup tournament with Canada.

“Congratulations to Nicolas Beaudin who will participate in the 2023 Spengler Cup. He will be back with the Rocket at the beginning of January,” wrote the Montreal Canadiens’ school club on its official ‘X’ account Thursday morning.

The 24-year-old has six assists in 13 games so far this season with the Rocket.

Beaudin was not in uniform in the Rocket’s 3-2 victory over the Crunch in Syracuse on Wednesday night. The Quebecer played his last game with the Laval team on December 16, in a 7-1 loss against the Hershey Bears.

The Spengler Cup tournament begins on December 26 in Davos, Switzerland. Canada will play its first match against Frölunda HC.

Last year, Canada lost its two preliminary phase matches, before losing to Örebro HK in the quarterfinals.

Beaudin, from Châteauguay, has two goals and four assists in 22 career NHL games, all with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Illinois team had also selected him in the first round, 27th overall, during the 2018 NHL draft session.