Penguins select Markus Ruck a day after taking twin brother - ESPN

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Born eight minutes earlier than his twin brother Liam, Marcus Ruck is fine with ceding NHL draft bragging rights.

All that mattered to Ruck on Saturday was being selected with the 39th pick in the second round by Pittsburgh in following his brother, who was drafted 22nd overall by the Penguins a day earlier.

«He can brag to me all he wants. I'm just so happy to be with him. I know he won't brag, but if he wanted to, he could,» Ruck said. «To be with him, it's so special.»

The twins are from Osoyoos, British Columbia, and spent the past two-plus seasons as one of the Western Hockey League's most productive tandems in Medicine Hat. Marcus led the WHL with 108 points last season, while Liam, a right wing, finished second with 104 points.

Liam was projected to go first, and when the Penguins chose him, Markus began looking ahead to No. 39, Pittsburgh's next turn to pick.

«I didn't have a preference of when, I just knew where I wanted to go and who I wanted be with,» he said, noting his brother kept his spirits up overnight. «He kept me calm and told me it was going to happen. So for it to happen it's awesome.»

The Ruck reunion was part of a family theme in a draft that had Caleb Malhotra going third to Vancouver, where his dad was just hired as the Canucks head coach.

The Calgary Flames opened the third round by selecting WHL Vancouver forward Joe Iginla. He's the youngest son of Hall of Famer and longtime Flames star Jarome Iginla, and his selection came after older brother Tij went No. 6 to Utah in the 2024 draft.

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