Chad Ruhwedel is a professional ice hockey player who has played for several teams in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on May 7, 1990, in San Diego, California, and began playing hockey at a young age.
Ruhwedel played college hockey at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he was a standout defenseman. He was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team in his freshman year and was a two-time Hockey East All-Star. In his senior year, he was named the Hockey East Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which is given to the top player in college hockey.
After college, Ruhwedel signed with the Buffalo Sabres as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He spent most of his first two seasons with the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, but also played in 28 NHL games during that time. In 2015, he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins and played in 34 games for them over the next two seasons, including winning a Stanley Cup with the team in 2017.
Ruhwedel's time with the Penguins was marked by his solid defensive play and his ability to move the puck up the ice. He was often paired with fellow defenseman Brian Dumoulin and was a key part of the team's penalty kill unit. However, he also suffered several injuries during his time with the Penguins, including a concussion and a broken arm.
In 2019, Ruhwedel signed a two-year contract extension with the Penguins, but he saw limited playing time during the 2019-20 season. He played in just 13 games and spent most of the season as a healthy scratch. However, he remained a popular player among Penguins fans and was known for his positive attitude and work ethic.
In the 2020-21 season, Ruhwedel played in just six games for the Penguins before being placed on waivers and ultimately being claimed by the Anaheim Ducks. He played in 20 games for the Ducks, scoring one goal and adding two assists. However, he was not re-signed by the team after the season and became an unrestricted free agent.
Despite his limited playing time in recent seasons, Ruhwedel remains a respected player in the NHL and is known for his hard work and dedication to the game. He has played in a total of 129 NHL games, scoring four goals and adding 14 assists. He is also a two-time Stanley Cup champion, having won the trophy with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017.
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