- Liam and Markus Ruck make their Penguins preseason debut Tuesday against Detroit
- The twins skate on the same line, Markus at center and Liam on the right wing
- Read below for what both said about pulling on an NHL jersey together
Liam and Markus Ruck have never spent more than four days apart in their lives, as Wes Crosby of NHL.com laid out. Tuesday night they get to share an NHL bench.
The 18-year-old twins debut for Pittsburgh in a preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings at PPG Paints Arena, and coach Dan Muse is keeping them together. Markus takes the middle, Liam lines up on his right wing.
Tuesday morning, Liam was asked what it means to do this alongside his brother:
Markus got the same question and did not bother playing it cool.
“It’s going to be unreal. It’s something we’ve always dreamed of. So, to be able to put on that NHL jersey and step out on that ice surface, it’s going to be unbelievable.”
He was not even supposed to play. Markus figured he would take warmups and watch until a spot came open Tuesday morning.
Ville Koivunen was ruled out with an upper-body injury and is day-to-day, with Carter Sanderson added to the game roster. Justin Brazeau and Ben Kindel sat out camp as well:
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are both dressing, which turns a debut into something closer to a field trip. Liam got an early taste of that Saturday, when the staff moved him into the main practice group with the captain. He explained what stood out:
“I think just seeing his practice habits and how hard he works, it’s special to be out there with him.”
Pittsburgh spent both of its top 2026 picks on the pair, taking Liam 22nd and Markus 39th. The two of them lined up together in Medicine Hat again this fall before reporting to camp.
Their last full WHL season was a monster. Markus led the league in points (108) and assists (87), and Liam finished second in points with 104 while scoring 45 goals. Both made the WHL East First All-Star Team.
Muse was asked how he manages to tell the two of them apart.
“It’s a lot easier on the ice than it is off the ice. Yeah, a lot easier.”
One person will have no trouble picking them out. Markus said their mother is back home in British Columbia and will be watching on TV, and that she was “pretty pumped” when she found out both her boys were in.
