Kamloops native John Ludvig has his first career NHL point in his fifth game.
The 23-year-old defenceman was credited with the secondary assist on Pittsburgh’s second goal, in their 3-2 overtime loss to Nashville last night. Bryan Rust was credited with the goal, while Jake Guentzel picked up the primary assist.
It was Ludvig’s fourth game back since he returned from a concussion that he suffered in his debut last month.
“Getting better every game but I’m getting the reps in here and starting to grow my confidence so its good,” Ludvig said. “It’s obviously a fast game so it gets a little easier every game, but yeah just disappointed that we didn’t get the two points here tonight.”
RIGHT BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS! pic.twitter.com/VtJWMjZYtb
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 29, 2023
The six-foot-one, 213 pound Ludvig also recorded his first career fight, against the much larger Michael McCarron who stands at six-foot-six, 232 pounds.
“I was just playing hard, throwing hits and going after some of their top guys, so I knew he was eventually going to come up to me and say something and yeah, that’s just how it started,” Ludvig said, of his fight.
“I’ve had a few concussions now, but they don’t really faze me too much. It’s just something that happens when you lay the play that I play.
Ludvig spent one season with the KIJHL’s Kamloops Storm as a 16-year-old, before a three season stint with the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League.
The Penguins claimed him off of waivers from the Florida Panthers in early October.