With the IIHF World Championships getting underway next week, each country’s respective team is gearing up with pre-Worlds play.
And one Pittsburgh Penguins’ prospect has been in the mix for Team Canada.
Defenseman Harrison Brunicke – drafted 44th overall in 2024 – was in the mix for the Canadians during their pre-Worlds matchup against Team Austria. Brunicke slotted on the bottom pairing alongside Nicolas Beaudin, who spent 22 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks over the course of three seasons before playing for HC Kometa Brno of the Czech League.
1️⃣5️⃣ minutes from the pre-#MensWorlds opener in Vienna. 🇨🇦🇦🇹
Plus que 1️⃣5️⃣ minutes avant le premier match préparatoire du #MondialMasculin à Vienne. 🇨🇦🇦🇹
💻 https://t.co/mRKvV6WmCwpic.twitter.com/YGB1rWxMvD
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) May 4, 2025
Canada defeated Austria in the pre-Worlds matchup, 5-1.
It’s safe to see that Brunicke, 18, has seen his stock rise since his draft selection last summer. After nearly breaking training camp to make the NHL roster prior to the start of the 2024-25 season, Brunicke went back to his junior team, the Kamloops Blazers, and continued to impress.
He was invited to Team Canada’s camp for the World Junior Championship – which took place at turn of the new year – but unfortunately, a November wrist fracture caused him to miss a large chunk of the season.
In 41 games with the Blazers, Brunicke registered five goals and 30 points and was re-assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins at the end of the season. He put up two points in 10 AHL games, and he appeared in both postseason games for WBS as well.
Team Canada’s final roster for the World Championship will be announced prior to the start of the tournament on May 9, and it remains to be seen whether Brunicke will be part of the final squad and have the chance to play against NHL competition.
Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas said he expects Brunicke to push for a spot on the NHL roster in 2025-26.
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