What to know about hockey’s premier junior-aged tournament that is about to kick of
The biggest and best junior-aged hockey tournament is upon us. The IIHF World Junior Championships starts today and runs through January 5th featuring 10 teams and some of the top U-20 players in the world this year’s host city of Ottawa.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will have three of their drafted prospects competing in the event. Forward Tanner Howe (second round pick, 2024) will be representing Canada, and a pair of Finnish defensemen Kalle Kangas (seventh round, 2023) and Emil Pieniniemi (third round, 2023) will also be involved.
A wrist injury prevented Pittsburgh’s other 2024 second round pick, Harrison Brunicke, from participation this year but he will be eligible to play in this event next year.
Howe’s inclusion on Team Canada has been met with a minor amount of internet outrage. Howe was picked over other more skilled or higher drafted players, who may forget that this WJC event isn’t about picking the best future professional players or indicating who might be “better” than others, but an attempt to create a cohesive and well-rounded team.
In a tune-up exhibition game earlier this week, Howe stood out positively to Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis, who wrote:
#23 Tanner Howe, LW (Pittsburgh Penguins): After an impressive selection camp earned him a spot as a bottom-six player, I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Howe. He battles so hard at both ends of the ice and even drew a second-period penalty to help give Canada some momentum. The Canadians have their fair share of point producers, but Howe will be counted on to bring the energy throughout the tournament like he did today.
Howe aspires to be a player like Matthew Tkachuk or Brad Marchand, which there’s absolutely nothing wrong with. He’ll find his own niche somewhere along the way if he continues to bring the energy, draw penalties, play at the front of the net on the power play and become and active player to provide value in this tournament.
Pieniniemi has been named one of four rotating alternate captains for the Finns. The 19-year old made the jump over from the Finnish pro ranks over to the Ontario Hockey League where he’s been one of the top defenders in Canadian juniors this season so far.
The Pens don’t have any prospects with Team USA’s team this year but there is a regional connection. Westmoreland County’s own (and former Pittsburgh Penguin Elite player) Brandon Svoboda has made the American Junior Team. Now at Boston University, Svoboda was a third round pick in 2023 of the San Jose Sharks.
We won’t have to wait too long to see the Penguin prospects faceoff directly, Finland and Canada play in the opening game today. From the Pens:
The trio of Penguins prospects opens the tournament on Dec. 26 with a matchup between Team Canada and Team Finland at 7:30 PM ET. Team Canada’s preliminary play continues on Dec. 27 (7:30 PM ET vs. Latvia), Dec. 29 (7:30 PM ET vs. Germany) and Dec. 31 (8:00 PM ET vs. USA). Team Finland’s preliminary play continues on Dec. 27 (3:30 PM ET vs. Germany), Dec. 29 (2:30 PM ET vs. USA) and Dec. 31 (2:30 PM ET vs. Latvia).
In America, you can find the games on NHL Network.
