Penguins forwards Jesse Puljujjarvi, Valtteri Puustinen named to Finland's roster for IIHF World Championship

Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Jesse Puljujarvi and Valtteri Puustinen were named to Finland’s roster for the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) World Championship tournament.

The Finnish Ice Hockey Association announced the roster via a release on Sunday.

Both players competed for Finland in the Euro Hockey Tour tournament in Czechia this weekend. That tournament serves as a preliminary event for Czechia, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland and helps those countries finalize their rosters going into the IIHF World Championship tournament which is scheduled to begin Friday.

Signing with the Penguins in February, the 25-year-old Puljujarvi appeared in 21 games this season and scored four points (three goals, one assist) while averaging 9:11 of ice time per contest.

Puljujarvi last played for Finland in the IIHF World Championship during the 2017 tournament. In eight games that year, he had no points.

The 24-year-old Puustinen broke through as a full-time NHLer this season. Playing in 52 games, the rookie posted 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) and clocked an average of 11:45 of ice time per contest.

Puustinen has previously played for Finland on the international stage, most recently playing in the 2021 IIHF World Championship tournament. In two games that year, he had no points.

This year’s tournament is scheduled to be held between Friday and May 26 in Czechia. Several members of the Penguins are slated to participate:

• Forward Michael Bunting was named to Canada’s roster while president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas is serving as an associate general manager for Canada.

• Defensemen Erik Karlsson and Marcus Pettersson were named to Sweden’s roster.

• Assistant coach Ty Hennes was named to the United States’ staff in an identical capacity.

• Forward prospect Raivis Ansons has been participating in Latvia’s training camp but that country’s roster has yet to be officially revealed.

• Forward Radim Zohorna was not selected to Czechia’s roster for the IIHF World Championship after playing for that country in the Euro Hockey Tour tournament.