The Pittsburgh Penguins have successfully eased everyone's minds as they reunited both the Ruck twins, Markus and Liam in the 2026 NHL Draft.
In the first round last night, the Penguins selected the younger twin, Liam, as the 22nd overall pick. By the following morning, Markus joined his twin after being selected 39th overall.
Both of the Ruck twins are from the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League, and they both look promising for the future of the Penguins.
Liam Ruck is heading to Pittsburgh! 🐧 pic.twitter.com/gvKW5HFeWG
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 27, 2026
During the recent 2025–26 season with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Liam Ruck solidified his reputation as a high-scoring player, with achieving 45 goals and adding 59 assists for 104 points in 68 games.
Liam Ruck finished the 2025-26 as the second-highest scorer in the entire WHL. He was one of four players across the league's three member leagues to cross the 100-point mark while his 45 goals tied for seventh overall in the league.
THE RUCK TWINS ARE REUNITED 🐧
— NHL (@NHL) June 27, 2026
The @penguins select Markus Ruck at 39th overall after picking Liam yesterday! #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/rQg3ybkF5l
Liam's 'mirror' twin and the older of the two, Markus Ruck, has been drafted 39th overall. Thankfully, the Penguins successfully reunited the two twins in the same team.
Alongside Liam in the Medicine Hat Tigers, Markus Ruck finished the 2025-26 season as the highest scorer in the entire WHL, tallying a total of 21 goals, 87 assists and an outstanding 108 points in 68 games played.
For the upcoming 2026-27 season, the twins will be returning to the Medicine Hat Tigers, and will join the University of North Dakota in the fall of 2027, per Cam Robinson.
Entering such a reputable franchise at just 18 years old, the young forwards face inevitable pressure. With the weight of past Stanley Cups and a roster full of respected veterans, the expectations are already heavy, and of course, the historic franchise records loom over them immediately.
In franchise history, Sidney Crosby has scored the most goals by an 18-year-old with 39 in 2005-06, followed by Jordan Staal with 29 the next season, Jaromir Jagr with 18 in 1990-91, and Ben Kindel with 17 in the recent 2025-26 season.
There is no doubt both the Ruck twins can include themselves in that growing list in the near future.
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