Pittsburgh Penguins 2023 third-round draft pick (No. 91 overall) Emil Pieniniemi is set to make his North American hockey debut this upcoming season as he signed with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), the club announced Thursday.
Pieniniemi, a 19-year-old defenseman and native of Kuopio, Finland, spent last year playing for Karpat of Liiga, the top Finnish pro league.
In 38 games, he scored two goals with four assists.
He also represented Finland at the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championships, playing in seven games.
He joined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League last April on an amateur tryout contract, but did not appear in either of the club’s two Calder Cup Playoffs contests.
A 6-foot-2, 170-pound left-handed shot, Pieniniemi is in the first year of a three-year entry level contract worth $838,333 annually.
BREAKING: HE'S HERE ‼️
GM Kory Cooper has announced that @penguins prospect Emil Pieniniemi has committed to the Frontenacs.
Welcome to Kingston, Emil! ????????
FULL DETAILS➡️: https://t.co/oBcRHPoE04#BearTheK pic.twitter.com/ASDkj0d9Zx
— Kingston Frontenacs (@KingstonFronts) August 22, 2024
