RALEIGH — Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said Monday that rookie defenseman Justin Faulk would not be released to participate for Team USA in the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, scheduled for Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Calgary and Edmonton.

Faulk, 19, competed for the U.S. team in the 2011 World Junior in Buffalo, and was second among U.S. defensemen in scoring with four points as Team USA took the bronze. But Rutherford said Faulk had become "an integral part of our team" and that it was "in the best interest of our organization and his development" for him to stay with the Canes.

Faulk has played 18 games for Carolina, with a goal and three assists. The South St. Paul, Minn., native said last week it would be a honor to play for the U.S. again but that he would leave the decision to management.

In other team news, Rutherford said there had been no change in the condition of forward Jeff Skinner or defenseman Joni Pitkanen, both out indefinitely with concussions.