Better Together

Liam and Markus Ruck’s family members and friends couldn’t hold back their happy tears when the identical twins walked into their suite at KeyBank Center wearing Penguins jerseys after being drafted by Pittsburgh in the 2026 NHL Draft.

“It is something that I’ve wanted to happen forever. They’re better together. They’re best friends,” said their mom, Nina. “They’re self-motivated kids, they’re hardworking kids, they’re humble kids, and this is their dream.”

At that point, she started to get emotional.

“So, to have two, let alone one, go through the same experience and go through it together, it means everything.”

“I’m so happy Pittsburgh could step up for them,” added their dad, Derek.

The Rucks have experienced some major adrenaline spikes since arriving in Buffalo for the draft festivities this weekend, starting with Liam getting selected in the first round, 22^nd overall.

Seated with Markus, Derek and Nina on the draft floor, Liam hugged his brother first and then the rest of his family before making his way backstage to go through the gauntlet of photos, interviews, and other draft-related obligations.

At one point, Liam was asked if his family was nearby for a photo opp. But they had remained in their setup just in case Markus was drafted before the end of the first round, ideally by Pittsburgh. But it wasn’t to be, at least not that night.

But Penguins President of Hockey Operations and GM Kyle Dubas said afterward, at the NHL Scouting Combine, they learned that the twins had only spent a total of four nights apart their entire lives.

“So, I think that (drafting Markus) would make sense, if that’s the way the board falls,” Dubas said.

The Rucks returned to their hotel feeling thrilled for Liam, and praying that Markus would be able to join him in the Penguins organization.

“I was pretty stressed last night, so Liam told me everything's gonna be okay and work itself out,” Markus said. “So yeah, he kept me calm, and told me it was gonna happen. So for it to happen, it's awesome.

“We knew it was gonna be very, very tough for a team to do this, and we just can't thank Pittsburgh enough. Such a historic franchise. They have Cups there, they have Crosby there, they have kind of everything. To be picked there, and together, we knew that was a pretty low chance, to be honest. So, we couldn't be more excited.”

Penguins Vice President of Player Personnel Wes Clark called it a “very unique” situation, saying there was a lot of strategy involved.

“We put a lot of time into it last week, dealing with the agent, our scouts, management. Once we took Liam at 22, decided to hold and roll the dice and were able to get Markus at 39,” Clark said. “I think the reality is we need to keep accruing talented people and acquiring talented people to the organization, and I think we were able to accomplish that with both of them.”

The Medicine Hat Tigers teammates finished first and second in Western Hockey League scoring. Markus, who is more of a passer, recorded 108 points (21G-87A), while Liam, who is more of a scorer, recorded 104 points (45G-59A).

It makes sense that they have complementary playing styles, as Nina said that Liam and Markus are ‘mirror twins.’ As Derek explained, “It means they’re opposite hands, they’re opposite everything. They’re pretty much one person, split down the middle. It’s crazy.”

While Derek was also a Western Hockey league alum, he and Nina never wanted to force hockey onto the boys. But they showed a passion for it right away.

When Liam and Markus were around 2 years old, Nina had a four-day workweek. So, on Fridays, she would take them to the Moms and Tots sessions at a rink in their town of Osoyoos, British Columbia.

“And then they just started loving it,” said Nina. “They would sit there and watch a full hockey game when they were 2 years old,” Derek added. “They were just glued to it.”

Derek and Nina registered the boys in organized hockey at age 4, because by that point, “they were ready to go. They were hooked,” she said.

They’ve been on this journey together ever since.

“We do everything together, on and off the ice,” Markus said. “We watch video together, work out together, we compete with each other, we have fun with each other, we play pickleball together. It's a special bond.”

Walking around with Markus after he got taken - with Liam joining him for some photos that will surely be framed immediately - the overwhelming sentiment was that Pittsburgh landing the twins was the story of the draft.

People who had been following the twins throughout their draft year were rooting for this, while others, like our suite attendant, thought it was the coolest thing when they realized what had happened.

But no one was more overjoyed than the twins themselves, and their parents, who won’t have to be a house divided.

“One jersey, one team. Gold is my new favorite color,” Nina said. “I know they talked to Sidney Crosby, he called them, and they were just, like, glowing. They were so excited. They couldn’t be happier.”