Confident Brunicke Heading Into Big Year

During a whirlwind season that saw Harrison Brunicke play for four different teams and two playoff pushes, the defenseman improved with each passing day and saw firsthand what it takes to become a professional hockey player.

“A lot of confidence,” Brunicke said about what he learned. “Just thinking about each game, I felt really good throughout the whole time I was here. There's going to be ups and downs and mistakes, but ultimately I think I'm really rounding out my game.”

After earning a spot on Pittsburgh’s opening-night roster last season, Brunicke debuted at Madison Square Garden and scored his first NHL goal. He ultimately stayed within the nine-game window to avoid burning a year of his contract.

“We tried to utilize as much as we could and time as much as we could - the nine games, plus the five games in Wilkes-Barre, to set him up to go to the World Juniors and then make a decision on him there,” Penguins President of Hockey Operations and GM Kyle Dubas said at the end of the season. “And then, he went back to junior and had a very good run with them, helped Kamloops make the playoffs.”

Brunicke then joined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the Calder Cup Playoffs. He was an integral part of the team’s blueline and helped carry WBS to the Eastern Conference Finals, picking up nine points (2G-5A) in 15 games.

“He was a horse for us,” WBS Head Coach Kirk MacDonald said. “He was playing huge minutes in every situation, top power-play unit, killing penalties, every situation, late in games. It was just really cool to see the growth since I've gotten to know him as a player. What he brought to the table on a long playoff run was great to see.”

Brunicke thrived off the responsibility that MacDonald and the rest of the WBS coaching staff gave him in the playoffs.

“When your coach can trust you, you can go over the boards and just play,” Brunicke said. “It’s a good feeling. Mistakes are going to happen, but that’s the same with every player. As long as you’re contributing and being a good teammate, it takes you a long way.”

Due to the agreements between the NHL and the CHL (Canadian Hockey League), the 2024 second-round pick was limited in where he could play for his first two seasons in the organization. As a teenager, he was ineligible to play full-time in the AHL.

So, while Brunicke was mainly limited to joining Wilkes-Barre at the tail end of those two seasons, his progress has impressed the Penguins staff.

“You can tell he’s playing hockey at a high level, but his decision-making is much better; he knows when to skate and when to move the puck,” MacDonald said. “He’s a guy who took charge on the ice, asserted himself, and showed everybody how things are supposed to be done. We’re all expecting a big year from him.”

With the season that was now officially in the books, Brunicke – now 20 – took the summer to build on his experience and carry that momentum into his third training camp with the Penguins.

Training throughout the summer at Crash Conditioning in Calgary with the likes of other NHLers such as Jake Neighbours, Jordan Eberle, and Justin Sourdif, Brunicke also spent time working with power skating coach Patrick Puddifant, who trained Cale Makar.

“Overall, just getting bigger, stronger, and closing plays quicker,” Brunicke said. “Also just sticking to the things that I’m good at, which is my feet, closing plays, and being harder in the corner. I think that I carried that over into the playoffs, and I’m just looking to keep building and bringing it to camp this year.”

Before Training Camp officially gets underway, Brunicke will join a handful of his teammates when they travel to Detroit to play in the 2026 Prospects Tournament this upcoming weekend. Having participated in this tournament the last two seasons, Brunicke will serve as a leader for many of these first-time goers.

“We’re trying to put them in a position so that when training camp starts next week with the big boys, they’re a little bit more comfortable,” MacDonald said. “To me, hopefully, (Brunicke) comes in this week and sets the tone for the whole group.”

Although these games have no true implications to the season, they are critically important for players like Brunicke who fully intend on earning a spot on the NHL roster. With the NHL’s preseason shorter than normal this year, it will be a quick turnaround before training camp starts on Sept. 17 in a full-group environment.

From being one of the last players to be cut from the team at just 18 years old two seasons ago, to then making the opening roster last year, Brunicke knows that another step is required this time around in training camp to become an NHL-regular defenseman.

“I’m feeling ready,” Brunicke said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of guys competing on this team, and ultimately, you’ve got to come in and try to take some jobs. That’s what I’m here to do, and I’m feeling good.”