Rucks look forward to shared rookie experience

By JAMES TUBB on September 26, 2024.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

Markus and Liam Ruck suited up in the same WHL game for the first time in the Medicine Hat Tigers season opener. But like many times before, the two wreaked havoc on their opponent.

The Tigers’ twin forwards both recorded points in the 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sept. 21 at Co-op Place. With family in the building, Markus opened the scoring with his first WHL goal, and Liam scored the game winner in the same period, his second in the league.

Sharing the ice, even for the first time in the WHL, brought some normalcy to both brothers.

“It was pretty easy to ease in,” Liam said. “We had some shifts that were really pretty good and then eased into the game and it was good.”

“It’s always been the dream of ours, so finally having that happen was unreal playing together,” Markus said. “It’s always nice being with him and I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.”

Liam, who was on the bench when Markus scored off a shot-pass from defenceman Nate Corbet, was excited to meet him there to celebrate.

“Obviously love to see him succeed and see him score, just a lot of emotions for me and everyone on the team,” Liam said.

Later in the opening period, after defenceman Matt Paranych scored his first WHL goal, Liam got his chance to get on the scoresheet. He picked up the puck along the boards and wired home a shot for his first of the season.

This time, the two brothers were on the ice and it was the older twin Markus coming to celebrate with ‘little brother’ Liam. There was no sibling jealousy from Markus, he was willing to share the spotlight

“I was so glad to see us score and him score, I love when he has success,” Markus said.

“I thought I’d join him,” Liam joked. “I thought we both could have a night.”

The duo of 16-year-olds from Osoyoos, B.C. has spent the last four seasons playing for the Okanagan Hockey Academy, finishing up their last year of minor hockey with OHA’s U18 team.

Markus had 18 goals and 62 points in 25 games for Okanagan, outscoring Liam who had 25 goals and 53 points in 22 games. Markus had two WHL games under his belt last season, Liam made it into three regular season games with a goal and an assist, also registering a playoff appearance.

They’re both looking forward to sticking with the Tigers the rest of the season and working alongside each other and fellow rookie, Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll.

“Us young guys, we’re just going to do what we can to help the team out, whether it’s on the ice or off the ice,” Liam said. “Helping the older guys so they don’t have to do as much around the rink, making their job easier.”

What they aren’t making easier, is the life of the coaching staff who gets the task of identifying which twin is which. As well as competing against the duo in drills, it’s a tall task, associate coach Joe Frazer says.

“They toasted us, we had to split them up,” Frazer joked.

Both Frazer and assistant coach Josh Maser had to compete against the Rucks and other Tigers scratches in pregame skates last season. Frazer says they’ve seen the duo’s skill in practice and he is looking forward to seeing more in game.

“We’ve been lucky to see him in practice together, and last year, when they were up, the pregame skates when they weren’t playing together,” Frazer said. “So it’s great to have them on the line, where you could see them in live action, where they get to play together. They obviously have a ton of chemistry and can make some great plays.”

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