When defenceman Harrison Brunicke stepped onto the ice for the Pittsburgh Penguins on opening night of the 2025-26 season, it was historic in more ways than one.
Not only was it the 19-year-old's NHL regular-season debut, it marked the first time a South African-born skater played in the NHL.
The six-foot-three blueliner was born in Johannesburg before his family moved to Calgary in 2009. Brunicke is just the second player from South Africa to suit up in the NHL, behind goaltender Olaf Kolzig, who spent 17 years at hockey's top level, racking up an all-star nod to go with a Vezina (1999-00) and King Clancy Trophy (2005-06).
While he appreciates his South African roots, Brunicke has represented Canada at the under-18 world championship and was invited to the Canadian junior team's summer camp this year.
Brunicke spent the 2024-25 season split between the WHL's Kamloops Blazers and the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where he put up two assists in 10 games. He racked up 30 points (five goals, 25 assists) in 41 appearances with Kamloops.
The Penguins selected Brunicke with the 44th-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
