skating history books
Photo Credit: Tanner Howe(left) and Harrison Brunicke (right); Penguins

Harrison Brunicke has come a long way from Joburg to making the skating history books for South Africa. The young ice hockey star has just become the first South African-born skater to be selected for the NHL draft in decades!

 

Las Vegas, USA (01 July 2024) — It’s a very exciting time in the world of ice hockey for South Africa thanks to an 18-year-old defenseman who has risen to the heights of his talent and made the skating history books along the way.

Last month along with many South African ice hockey fans, we were thrilled to learn that Harrison Brunicke had a shot at being drafted for the National Hockey League (NHL)—a massive deal for any skater, let alone one born in a country where the sport is not nearly as popular as it is in the Northern Hemisphere.

But, Harrison has shown the world not to sleep on South Africans after word came that he has officially been picked up by the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 2 of the draft, making him the first South African-born skater to make the NHL in decades after Olie Kolzig who was born in South Africa to German parents .

“What a feeling!” The young Harrison commented on his achievement, going on to thank everyone who supported him in achieving this milestone moment. 

The South African now not only represents his home country (and Johannesburg) in the big leagues, but also his adopted country (Canada, where he and his family moved in his early life) who will both be rooting for him as far as the ice takes him!


Sources: Website Submission
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

 

About the Author

Ashleigh Nefdt is a writer for Good Things Guy.

Ashleigh's favourite stories have always seen the hidden hero (without the cape) come to the rescue. As a journalist, her labour of love is finding those everyday heroes and spotlighting their spark - especially those empowering women, social upliftment movers, sustainability shakers and creatives with hearts of gold. When she's not working on a story, she's dedicated to her canvas or appreciating Mother Nature.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *