CHL to NHL: Blazers’ Brunicke makes NHL debut with Pittsburgh

Kamloops Blazers’ Harrison Brunicke made his NHL debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 3-0 season opening win.

The native of  Johannesburg had 19 shifts totalling 15:21 minutes of ice-time with a shot and two blocks in the win.

In his third full WHL season, Brunicke had a career 30 points  in 41 games from the Blazers blue line. A third round pick in 2021, Brunicke has appeared in 151 career games with Kamloops.

After his WHL season ended last spring the 6’3″ defenceman suited up for the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins notching two assists in 10 games while adding a goal and an assist in two playoff games.

The 19-year-old has also suited up internationally winning gold with Canada at the 2024 U18 World Championships.

Pittsburgh selected Brunicke 44th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft where he became the first skater born in South Africa to be chosen by an NHL club.

ROOKIE LAP TIME ‼️ pic.twitter.com/b3qT6dlNdG

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 7, 2025