Disappointed, understandably.

But Kelowna Rockets Cal Foote is willing to be patient to follow his father to the international stage.

Foote, 18, was deemed ineligible to represent Team Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship in November.

“It’s tough not being there but it was all eligibility and all that stuff,” said Foote, who is 10th in Future Considerations’ Fall ranking for the 2017 NHL Draft.

“I’m just looking forward to try to make it next year.”

Canada announced their 22-man roster that will compete at the World Juniors on Dec. 14.

Foote wasn’t invited to try out after Hockey Canada couldn’t get an exemption for the 6-foot-4, 210-pound defenseman.

Under IIHF regulations, a player must reside in a country for 16 consecutive months, and play hockey there for two seasons in succession, before he is permitted to suit up for that country.

Foote, the son of longtime NHLer and three-time Olympian Adam Foote, is in just his second season with the Kelowna Rockets after playing his minor hockey in Colorado.

“We were trying our hardest to try to get around it and we were close,” Foote said.

Instead, he’ll cheer on his teammates from Canada’s National Junior Team Summer Development Camp.

“I’m a big Canadian fan,” Foote said.

“I hope the best for them.”