Pittsburgh Penguins forward prospect Tanner Howe will fulfill a childhood dream by representing Team Canada at the 2025 World Junior Championship. The tournament is set to take place from December 26 to January 5 in Ottawa.
“It means everything. As a kid, I grew up dreaming of this and being in this tournament,” said Howe, who hails from Saskatchewan. “For it to become real life – and especially to do it in Canada, and have this fan base and support behind us – I think it’s going to be so cool.”
Howe shared his experience after Team Canada’s invitational camp ended, where he and his roommate Matthew Schaefer waited anxiously for the team selection results. “We sat there for about an hour, nervously waiting and trying to talk about other things to get our minds off it,” Howe recalled. He described the moment they received confirmation as “crazy emotions” and “super awesome.”
Upon receiving the news, Howe immediately contacted his family, former coaches, and teammates. “It’s cool to see that support and to also thank them because you don’t get here by yourself,” he expressed.
Previously, Howe has represented Team Canada at international events like the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the World Under-18 Championship in 2023. He aims to contribute significantly with his consistent performance during the upcoming championship. “I think I’ll bring some depth to the team, and I’ll be consistent every night,” said Howe.
The young player has been active since being drafted by Pittsburgh in June. He participated in various camps with the Penguins organization over summer despite sustaining a facial injury during a showcase event.
Kyle Dubas, President of Hockey Operations and GM of Pittsburgh Penguins, praised Howe’s potential contribution: “I’m happy for Tanner… driving the other team crazy… whatever it’s going to take to help Canada win.”
Howe’s journey included a trade from Regina Pats to Calgary Hitmen just before his 19th birthday. Reflecting on recent changes, he remarked: “Yeah, it’s been a little bit of a roller coaster.”
In addition to Howe’s participation with Team Canada, defensemen Emil Pieniemi and Kalle Kangas were named for Team Finland at the IIHF 2025 World Junior Championship.
