By Lexi McFarlane, Times Chronicle
Osoyoos’s popular hockey twins will get the opportunity to begin their pro hockey careers together, following a special milestone for both boys this past weekend.
Markus and Liam Ruck were both drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, held on Friday and Saturday in Buffalo, NY. On Day 1 of the Draft, when the first round took place, Liam was selected with the 22nd overall pick by Pittsburgh. Markus was chosen the next morning, during the second round, at 39th overall.
While the process was a longer one and had more uncertainty behind it, the result is the same as that of the Vancouver Canucks’ famed Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik. Liam and Markus are the highest-drafted set of twins since the Sedins, all the way back in 1999.
The Ruck twins both being selected within the first 40 picks of the Draft caps off an incredible past 12 months in their hockey lives. Playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, the twins had to step up following the departure of star forward Gavin McKenna, the 1st overall pick in this year’s Draft.
Liam and Markus Ruck.
Contributed photo
They not only stepped up, but blossomed into two of the best talents on the Tigers this past season. Statistically, they had the best season by a pair of brothers in WHL history, as both cleared the 100-point mark points-wise. Markus finished with the higher total, tallying 21 goals and an incredible 87 assists, while Liam potted 45 goals and 59 assists.
Beyond the scoring, they were also excellent in their two-way games, doing solid work defensively as they guided the Tigers to a second consecutive berth in the WHL’s Eastern Conference Final. And speaking of 87, those All-Star WHL seasons earned a call from Penguins captain and legend Sidney Crosby, who congratulated them on being drafted and welcomed them to the organization.
“I just wanted to call and say ‘hi, and welcome’,” Crosby told them, “and I’ll see you at main camp.”
While the Ruck twins will get the chance to attend the Penguins’ development camp this week and the main training camp later this summer, it remains to be seen whether it will mean the start of their NHL careers or if they’ll return to Medicine Hat for one more season of junior hockey.
