Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel took an unusual — and unexpected — path to the NHL from San Diego
If you’re surprised that Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel has carved out a 12-year career in the NHL, you’re not alone.
Ruhwedel is, too.
From a certain perspective.
To be clear, every ounce of success Ruhwedel has enjoyed — from simply appearing in 320 career regular-season games to receiving a Stanley Cup ring from the Penguins’ 2017 championship — has been earned through his devotion, determination and discipline.
But simply being here — in the NHL — isn’t something Ruhwedel even considered until the start of his senior year at Scripps Ranch High School in northeast San Diego. While kids from places such as Saskatoon or Stockholm dream of the NHL from the moment they can walk (or skate), Ruhwedel’s pursuits were more typical of a Southern Californian youth.
“When I was growing up, the NHL, college hockey didn’t really cross my mind until, like, high school,” Ruhwedel said during a recent interview. “I was still surfing, playing other sports, had plenty of other activities going on. Don’t get me wrong, I played a lot of hockey, but I had a lot of outside (interests).”
How did hockey even enter that mix for Ruhwedel?
“My parents didn’t play hockey, but my mom (Robin) grew up outside Chicago for a little while,” Ruhwedel said. “So she was familiar with skating and some Blackhawks players and stuff. … It started with skating, just going to public sessions. (My parents) were big on if we loved a sport or an activity, we kept doing it.”
Somewhat surprisingly, finding ice in San Diego wasn’t a problem.
Finding ice time was another matter.
“By the time I left (to go play at the junior level), I had four, five rinks within 20 minutes of my house,” said Ruhwedel. “So not too bad. When I was younger, about three that I stuck to. … So, there was definitely some options but not any type of free ice or open ice like you hear about in smaller towns. The rink was always packed, always being used just because of the sheer population.
“Some weird hours for practices and games, but it all worked out.”
Nothing would have worked out as it did had Ruhwedel not opted to join the Los Angeles Junior Kings program in 2007. That program is similar to the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite operation that provides an elevated level of competition as well as a gateway to high-end junior or NCAA teams.
Participation is expensive, however. And in Ruhwedel’s case, it required regular transit up the coast.
“That’s two hours (with) no traffic,” said Ruhwedel, who grew up a fan of Anaheim Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer. “The commitment a lot of (other) people had at such a young age was crazy. I started doing it senior year, which was a lot. It was a big financial investment for my parents. It wasn’t the easiest thing, but it was a necessary move and it ended up working out.”
Ruhwedel’s brief tenure with the Kings program led to him being a 16th-round selection of the Sioux Falls Stampede in the United States Hockey League’s 2008 draft. He was selected No. 190 overall out of 217 picks.
After two seasons with Sioux Falls — including serving as the Stampede’s captain in 2009-10 — Ruhwedel’s trek across the continent took him to the Bay State as he earned a scholarship from Massachusetts-Lowell.
San Diego, Sioux Falls and Lowell are three distinctly different locales to pursue your dream.
“You couldn’t get any more polar opposite than Sioux Falls and San Diego,” Ruhwedel chuckled. “Didn’t have a choice for that being drafted. But absolutely loved my time there. Phenomenal (billet) family, community, everything was great. As far as schools, I knew I wanted to try out east. Had already been (to the) West Coast, the Midwest. An out-east school came knocking, and it seemed like the right fit.”
Ruhwedel spent three seasons with the River Hawks, culminating in the school’s first — and still only — Frozen Four appearance in 2013 (held at then-named Consol Energy Center). An All-American that season as a junior, Ruhwedel opted to turn professional, signing an entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres.
After four mostly unappetizing seasons with that organization, Ruhwedel joined the Penguins as an unrestricted free agent in 2016 and has become a regular presence on the roster as either a bottom-pairing defenseman or a reserve over the past eight campaigns.
This season, the right-handed Ruhwedel, 33, has appeared in eight games and has one assist while averaging 11 minutes, 48 seconds of ice time entering Tuesday’s game at Anaheim.
Modest totals, to be sure. But slightly remarkable considering where Ruhwedel’s journey began.
“Kind of rare that you see guys from California make it to the NHL,” said Penguins forward Matt Nieto, a 31-year-old native of Long Beach. “You’re seeing it more and more now. But guys me and Chad’s age, when we first came into the league, there were only a few.
“It’s something that we take pride in.”
Ruhwedel is proud of his journey, even if it was somewhat unexpected.
“My senior year, I was already accepted to San Diego State,” said Ruhwedel, who indicated he might have pursued a business or economics degree at that school. “Then I got drafted to the USHL, and that changed my path.
“Once that happened, my parents and I were like, ‘Time to take a chance, see how it goes.’ It worked out for the better.”
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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