Three Penguins Prospects Selected for World Juniors; 2nd Round Surprise

The Pittsburgh Penguins will have three prospects, including one of their 2024 second-round picks, at the 2025 World Junior Championships, which begins Dec. 26 at the Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa.

Penguins forward prospect Tanner Howe will represent Team Canada. Howe was the 46th overall selection, and his inclusion is notable as several of the top 10 picks in the 2024 Draft, such as third overall pick Beckett Sennecke and sixth overall pick Tij Iginla, were excluded from the camp and not selected for the team.

Howe, 19, has played parts of five seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Regina Pats and Calgary Hitmen. He has registered 249 points with 101 goals in 223 career games. This season, Howe has 16 points (9-7-16) in 16 games split between Regina and Calgary.

Howe has previously played internationally for Team Canada, winning a Hlinka Gretzky Cup Gold Medal in 2023 and a bronze medal in the 2023 World Under-18 Championship. He also played in the 2022 World Under-18 Championship for Team Canada.

Defensemen Emil Pieniniemi and Kalle Kangas are the other two prospects and will represent Team Finland.

Read More: Penguins Draft Polarizing Finnish Defenseman Emil Pieniniemi in Rd 3

Pieniniemi, 19, was drafted by the Penguins in the third round (91st overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. This season, he has appeared in 32 games for the Kingston Frontenacs in the OHL with 34 points (4-30-34). Pieniniemi ranks first on the team in assists.

The 6-foot-3, 176-pound blueliner spent parts of the last three seasons with Karpat of Liiga, as well as Karpat’s respective junior teams.

Kangas, 19, was a raw prospect when the Penguins drafted him in the seventh round (223rd overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. This season, the defenseman has spent the majority of the season with HPK of Liiga after spending the last three seasons with Jokerit at the U18, U20, and Mestis levels. Kangas currently has five assists in 23 games played.

Pieniniemi and Kangas won bronze medals at the ‘23 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

From the Penguins Press Release:

The trio of Penguins prospects opens the tournament on Dec. 26 with a matchup between Team Canada and Team Finland at 7:30 p.m. ET. Team Canada’s preliminary play continues on Dec. 27 (7:30 p.m. ET vs. Latvia), Dec. 29 (7:30 p.m. ET vs. Germany), and Dec. 31 (8:00 p.m. ET vs. USA). Team Finland’s preliminary play continues on Dec. 27 (3:30 p.m. ET vs. Germany), Dec. 29 (2:30 p.m. ET vs. USA) and Dec. 31 (2:30 p.m. ET vs. Latvia).