Twins Liam and Markus Ruck Drafted Together by Penguins
Draft Day Reunion
The 2026 NHL Draft on June 27 delivered a rare moment when the Pittsburgh Penguins selected the Ruck brothers in back‑to‑back picks. Liam went 22nd overall, an 18‑year‑old forward, followed by his identical twin Markus at 39th. The selection marks the highest drafting of twins since the Canucks took Daniel and Henrik Sedin in 1999 at spots two and three. Their parents, Nina and Derek Ruck, were thrilled to see both sons wearing Penguins jerseys.
Markus and Liam Ruck celebrate with their family after being selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2026 NHL Draft
Credit: Joe Hrycych/Getty
Growing Up in Osoyoos
Liam and Markus were raised in Osoyoos, British Columbia, where their parents introduced them to skating at a young age. Nina and Derek would take each child to public rinks, holding them as they glided and watching them fall in love with the game. From those early moments the twins dreamt of holding a stick and shooting the puck. Markus, born eight minutes before his brother, remembers those first steps on the ice.
The brothers with the Medicine Hat Tigers in 2025
Credit: Jonathan Kozub/Getty
Stars of the WHL
During the 2025‑26 season the brothers starred for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL. Markus led the team in assists with 87, while Liam posted the most goals, 45. Their complementary skills were evident off the ice, each wishing they could borrow the other’s abilities. Markus admires Liam’s ability to find the net from anywhere, and Liam respects Markus’s passing under pressure. Since 2023 the twins have been teammates with the Medicine Hat Tigers, showing their long‑term chemistry.
The Penguins made the Ruck brothers’ NHL reunion official in June 2026
Credit: Andrea Cardin/NHLI via Getty
Life in Pittsburgh
Both twins attended the Penguins’ prospect development camp, where they were placed in separate practice groups after spending only four days apart. Their night before the draft was hectic for Markus, but both woke ready for whatever came. The family celebrated the perfect outcome, saying the Penguins’ decision felt like a dream come true. Liam and Markus now look ahead to returning to Medicine Hat and later joining the University of North Dakota in 2027, marking a bright future for the highest‑drafted twins in nearly three decades.
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