Bryan Rust Siblings: Meet Matt and Erika Rust
Bryan Rust PHOTO/Getty Images
Bryan Rust is an American professional ice hockey right winger known for his speed, tenacity, and clutch playoff performances.
Born on May 11, 1992, in Pontiac, Michigan, he has spent his entire NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins after being selected in the third round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Rust has emerged as a reliable two-way forward and alternate captain, contributing to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships while overcoming personal challenges like a childhood stutter.
Siblings
Bryan’s brother, Matt Rust, who is three years his senior, played college hockey at the University of Michigan as a four-year letterman and was drafted by the Florida Panthers.
Matt also had a brief professional stint, including a professional tryout with the Penguins’ AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Their sister, Erika Rust, pursued a career as a high school English teacher and women’s soccer coach.
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Career
Rust’s path to the NHL began with youth hockey in Michigan, including time with the Honeybaked AAA program and the U.S. National Team Development Program.
He played high school hockey at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor before committing to the University of Notre Dame, where he chose to forge his own identity separate from his brother’s Michigan experience.
At Notre Dame, he graduated with a degree in finance and developed into a productive forward, helping the team capture a CCHA Tournament title.
Drafted 80th overall by the Penguins in 2010, Rust turned professional in 2014.
He made his NHL debut during the 2014-15 season and quickly earned a reputation for his energy and versatility on the wing.
Rust became a key contributor during Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup runs in 2016 and 2017, scoring memorable goals including in Game 7 of the 2016 Eastern Conference Final.
Over more than 700 regular-season games, all with the Penguins, he has surpassed 500 career points while adapting to various roles, from scoring-line winger to penalty-kill specialist.
Accolades
Rust won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017, playing a pivotal role in the team’s postseason success as a rookie in 2016.
At the college level, he was part of Notre Dame’s 2013 CCHA Tournament championship team.
In the NHL, he has been named the Penguins’ Michel Brière Rookie of the Year and has received NHL Third Star of the Week honors for standout performances.
Beyond statistics, Rust has been nominated multiple times for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which honors leadership and humanitarian contributions, in recognition of his longtime advocacy and work with the National Association of Young People Who Stutter (Friends Who Stutter).
He has also won the Penguins’ Baz Bastien Memorial (Media Good Guy) Trophy for his positive interactions with the media and community.