Most players drafted into the NHL don\u2019t care what team picks them on draft night, but for new Penguins forward Will Horcoff, Pittsburgh was one of the cities he had circled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really had my fingers crossed that I\u2019d come here,\u201d Horcoff said. \u201cI had a double interview with them at the combine, so I knew they were interested, and I\u2019m super thankful that they picked me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Horcoff was drafted 24th overall in the first round this year after the Penguins traded up from the 31st spot.<\/p>\n
With player development camp taking place this weekend at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Horcoff has been able to get a glimpse into what the facilities look like at the NHL level.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, it\u2019s unreal, and the facilities are incredible,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve seen the facilities, and they\u2019re amazing so it\u2019s an honor to be here and I\u2019m excited to go through this whole week.\u201d<\/p>\n
He spent his freshman season playing for the Michigan Wolverines, scoring 10 points in 18 games.<\/p>\n
\nHorcoff buries a Hughes rebound on the power play and it\u2019s 3-3 pic.twitter.com\/BTyQRb3gOg<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) March 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
His college commitment was somewhat of a surprise, considering his NHL father, Shawn Horcoff, played at Michigan State, a school that was also among the final choices for Horcoff.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe always told me to go where I felt belonged, and he really supported my decision in the whole process,\u201d Horcoff said.<\/p>\n
That doesn\u2019t mean his father will be rocking the maize-and-blue anytime soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just won\u2019t wear anything Michigan,\u201d Horcoff joked. \u201cHe said not until we win the national championship, so that\u2019s what I\u2019m trying to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shawn Horcoff played in the NHL from 2000-16, mostly with the Edmonton Oilers. He spent his final three seasons in Dallas and Anaheim.<\/p>\n
Shawn Horcoff was a fourth-round selection of the Oilers in the 1998 NHL Draft, making his professional debut two years later.<\/p>\n
Will Horcoff has grown up around hockey thanks to his father. It is a reason why they share so many similarities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, we\u2019re kinda similar,\u201d Horcoff said. \u201cWe both work super hard, and I try to model my work ethic off of him because he showed me how bad he wanted it and he had an incredible career.\u201d<\/p>\n
Horcoff has been around the world following his father\u2019s hockey journey, making him adaptive to new environments almost every year of his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrowing up, I think I\u2019ve been to nine different schools to this point,\u201d Will said. \u201cI\u2019ve had to meet new people, which has really helped my personality, so I\u2019m really outgoing and not afraid to talk to new people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now in another new city, Horcoff and his other new draftees have been exploring Pittsburgh throughout the past week leading up to development camp. Along with fellow first-rounders Bill Zonnon and Ben Kindel, Horcoff threw out the ceremonial first pitch at last Monday\u2019s Pittsburgh Pirates game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was unbelievable. Like, I didn\u2019t notice the skyline in the background. It was sick,\u201d Horcoff said. \u201cI was nervous because I\u2019ve seen all of those worst first pitch videos, and I didn\u2019t want to drill someone in the back or miss the catcher.\u201d<\/p>\n
Giustino Racchini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Giustino at gracchini@triblive.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n