Pittsburgh Penguins rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke was selected for Hockey Canada’s preliminary roster for the upcoming International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) World Junior Championship tournament.
Hockey Canada announced the roster Monday morning. A training camp will be staged between Dec. 12 and 22 to determine the final roster.
Brunicke has skated in nine NHL games and scored one goal. Largely utilized on the right side of the third defensive pairing, Brunicke has averaged 15:43 of ice time per contest.
The 19-year-old recently completed a two-week conditioning assignment with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. With that club, Brunicke primarily skated on the right side of the third pairing and recorded three assists in five games.
Brunicke is still eligible to play at the junior level. Per NHL rules, players with that eligibility can play up to nine NHL games before the first year of their entry-level contract is tolled.
The Penguins largely kicked the can down the road on that decision with his conditioning assignment. They can delay that matter further by lending Brunicke to Hockey Canada for the IIHF World Junior Championship tournament. That event is scheduled between Dec. 26 and Jan. 5.
Brunicke was a second-round draft selection (No. 44 overall) in 2024.
Penn State defenseman Jackson Smith and forward Gavin McKenna were also selected to Hockey Canada’s preliminary roster.
Penguins forward prospect Will Horcoff, a second-round draft pick (No. 24 overall) in June, was selected for the United States’ preliminary roster last week.
The tournament will be held in St. Paul, Minn. and Minneapolis.
