Kelowna Rockets forward Brett Bulmer is heading back to join the Rockets after narrowly missing out on making the Team Canada World Junior Tournament.

Bulmer was among the cuts Wednesday morning as Team Canada named its 22 man roster for the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship in Calgary and Edmonton.

"It's pretty disappointing," Bulmer said in a media scrum at the team hotel after hearing the news. "I thought I worked hard, did everything they asked of me at camp so it's really disappointing. I thought I had a good shot. I worked hard, got on the body and did everything they asked but..."

Bulmer is expected to be in the Rockets lineup tonight when the team visits Regina tonight as the Rockets prairie road trip continues.

Players named to the team include goaltenders Mark Visentin and Scott Wedgewood, Defencemen Nathan Beaulieu, Brandon Gormley, Jamie Oleksiak, Dougie Hamilton, Scott Harrington, Ryan Murray and Mark Psysyk made the club. Up front, Freddie Hamilton, Quinton Howden, Jonathan Huberdeau, Tanner Pearson, Mark Scheifele, Devante Smith-Pelly, Mark Stone, Ryan Strome, Michael Bournival, Brett Connolly, Brendan Gallagher, Boone Jenner and Jaden Schwartz will skate for Canada.

Along with Bulmer. the players released included goaltenders Louis Dominigue and Tyler Bunz, defencemen Cody Ceci, Alex Petrovic, Ryan Murphy and Joe Morrow as well as forwards Phil Di Guiseppe, Tyler Toffoli, Christian Thomas, Ty Rattie, Brad Ross and Phillip Danault.

Edmonton and Calgary will host this year's world event. Canada opens the tournament Dec. 26 in Edmonton.

Canada will play exhibition games in Calgary, Red Deer, Alta., and Edmonton next week.