Pittsburgh Penguins prospects Tanner Howe, Emil Pieniniemi, and Kalle Kangas have been selected to participate in the IIHF 2025 World Junior Championship. The event is scheduled from December 26 to January 5 at TD Place and Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa, Ontario.
Tanner Howe, a forward for the Penguins, will play for Team Canada. Drafted by Pittsburgh in the second round (46th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, Howe has accumulated significant experience in the Western Hockey League with teams like Regina Pats and Calgary Hitmen. Over his WHL career, he has achieved 249 points with a breakdown of 101 goals and 148 assists over 223 games. This season alone, he has secured 16 points across 16 games split between two teams.
Howe’s international experience includes winning a gold medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2023 and a bronze at the World Under-18 Championship that same year. He also competed in the 2022 World Under-18 Championship.
Emil Pieniniemi will represent Finland as a defenseman. He was drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round (91st overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. Currently playing for Kingston Frontenacs in the OHL, Pieniniemi has made notable contributions this season with 34 points from four goals and thirty assists over thirty-two games. He ranks high on his team both for assists and total points.
Pieniniemi’s past international appearances include participating in both the World Under-20 Championship and Under-18 World Championship for Finland. In addition to these tournaments, he won bronze at the ’23 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Kalle Kangas is another Finnish defenseman selected for Team Finland. Chosen by Pittsburgh in the seventh round (223rd overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft, Kangas currently plays for HPK of Liiga after progressing through various levels with Jokerit over three seasons. This season he has contributed five assists over twenty-three games.
Internationally recognized as well, Kangas played at both last year’s World Under-20 Championship and previously at the Under-18 level; alongside Pieniniemi again securing bronze during their shared time competing within ‘23 Hlinka Gretzky Cup events where he scored two points across five matches.
The tournament kicks off on December 26 with an initial matchup featuring Team Canada against Team Finland at 7:30 PM ET followed by additional preliminary games throughout late December leading up into early January.
