Injured Penguins defensemen P.O Joseph, Chad Ruhwedel return to practice
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Injured Pittsburgh Penguins defensemen P.O Joseph and Chad Ruhwedel skated with their teammates during a practice session Sunday at PPG Paints Arena.
Both players — typically deployed on the third defensive pairing — have been sidelined for several weeks because of undisclosed maladies.
Joseph has missed the past 16 games, though he did play in two contests at the American Hockey League level this past weekend while on a conditioning assignment with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. During those tilts, Joseph primarily was deployed on the top pairing and recorded one assist as well as three shots.
He formally was recalled from that assignment Sunday morning.
“Definitely felt weird the first period back there,” said Joseph, who spent parts of three (AHL) seasons in Northeast Pennsylvania before becoming a full-time NHLer last season. “Just to be able to be with some of the guys that I’ve been with before there and the coaching staff and just the city in general, it was good. Just to be able to play some hockey finally was great. I’m definitely excited to be here and want to be a part of this team.”
After enjoying a solid rookie campaign last season, Joseph sputtered out of the gates in 2023-24 and was even a healthy scratch for a handful of games. In five NHL contests this season, he has one assist while averaging 13 minutes, 5 seconds of ice time.
There is room for improvement.
“I don’t think I’ve played the way I wanted,” Joseph said. “I want to be a better version of myself. It starts in practice and how I can be better in practice. Hopefully get in a game and play like I did last year.”
Ruhwedel echoed a similar sentiment. In 15 games, he has one assist and has clocked an average of 12:13 of ice time.
“Ups and downs,” said Ruhwedel, who has missed the past nine games. “Just along with the team, kind of the same. Some good games. Some that I could do better. Hoping to come back and help this team try to win.”
Joseph and Ruhwedel are designated to injured reserve at the moment along with forwards Noel Acciari and Matt Nieto, each of whom have missed the past four games because of undisclosed ailments.
According to coach Mike Sullivan, Acciari skated before Sunday’s practice with fellow injured forward Rickard Rakell (currently designated to long-term injured reserve) and assistant coach Ty Hennes while Nieto worked out off the ice.
Former broadcaster Doug McLeod dies
We’re deeply saddened to learn of the passing of longtime voice of #PrideOnIce Doug McLeod.
His iconic calls will live on forever.
His family and friends are in our thoughts. pic.twitter.com/xiKPunq7mH
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) December 10, 2023
Former Penguins radio broadcaster Doug McLeod died Saturday at age 70.
The University of Minnesota men’s hockey team announced his death Sunday. Circumstances of his death were not announced. The Rink Live, an outlet that covers college hockey, reported McLeod had been living in Arizona.
McLeod served as the radio play-by-play voice for the team for three seasons in the mid-1990s when broadcasts were on WTAE-AM. Between 1993 and 1996, McLeod worked with either Pittsburgh broadcasting icon Stan Savran or former Penguins forward Troy Loney as a color commentator during his stint with the Penguins.
In addition to the Penguins and the University of Minnesota, McLeod called games for the Minnesota North Stars and Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes. He even served as the play-by-play voice in “Mystery, Alaska,” a 1999 film about a fictional hockey team from Alaska that played a game against the New York Rangers.