Penguins prospects Emil Pieniniemi, Kalle Kangas selected by Finland for IIHF World Junior Championship
Penguins defensive prospects Emil Pieniniemi and Kalle Kangas were named to Finland’s team for the upcoming International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship tournament.
The Finnish Ice Hockey Association officially announced the roster on Friday.
Pieniniemi (third round, No. 91 overall) and Kanges (seventh round, No. 223 overall) were each drafted by the Penguins this year.
The left-handed Pieniniemi (6-foot-2, 170 pounds) has split the 2023-24 season with three different teams in Finland so far. He has primarily played with Karpat of the Liiga, that country’s top league. In 23 games, he has recorded four assists.
In July, the Penguins signed Pieniniemi to a three-year entry-level contract that will “slide” — or begin — once he begins playing in North America.
Also left-handed, Kangas (6-4, 205) has primarily played with Jokerit of the Mestis, Finland’s second-tier league, this season. In 23 games, he has scored six points.
The only other Penguins prospect scheduled to participate in the tournament is forward Brayden Yager, the team’s first-round pick (No. 14) in this year’s draft. He was selected to Canada’s roster Dec. 13.
The tournament is scheduled to be staged Dec. 26 through Jan. 5 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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