The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins made a roster move Tuesday, bringing Jack Horbach up from their ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades.
Horbach has played nine games for Florida this season and has made his mark quickly, leading the team’s rookies with four goals and seven points. Those seven points also leave him tied for third on the club overall.
The 24-year-old forward joined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on an AHL contract in April after finishing a four-year run at the University of Wisconsin. His senior season produced eight points, including three goals and five assists, in 39 games, and one of those goals was a big one: the game-winner in Wisconsin’s NCAA National Tournament Regional Semifinal win over Dartmouth College.
Over 144 NCAA games, the Naperville, Illinois native posted 16 goals and 23 assists for 39 points. During his sophomore year, he also earned the Badgers’ Mike Richter Most Competitive Player Award.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton now turns to a busy stretch, starting Friday, Nov. 13, when it visits the Hershey Bears at GIANT Center. That game opens a three-in-three weekend for the Penguins, with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m.
The home side of that weekend comes Saturday, Nov. 14, when the Hamilton Hammers visit Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza for their first-ever meeting with the Penguins. That night is also the Penguins’ Veterans Day Celebration, presented by Workers For Warriors. Before the game, the team will hold a donation drive for the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, with fans encouraged to bring new, unused winter clothes and/or non-perishable food items to the East Gate Entrance.
Saturday’s puck drop is set for 6:05 p.m.
Season-ticket packages for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s 2026-27 season are on sale now, with Full-Season, 22-game, 12-game, Flexbook and Premium Seating options available by calling (570) 208-7367. Individual-game tickets can also be purchased through wbspenguins.com, the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza Box Office or by calling the Penguins’ front office at (570) 208-7367.
Fans can also watch every Penguins game online through AHLTV on FloHockey, which carries every regular-season and Calder Cup Playoff game for all 32 AHL teams, along with more than 21,000 hockey contests from other professional and junior leagues on FloHockey and access to other live event streams and replays across FloSports.
In Other News...
WBS Penguins Suddenly Face A Familiar Problem After Streak Ends
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins went into Mohegan Arena looking to keep their momentum rolling, but a 4-0 loss to the Utica Comets snapped a three-game winning streak and brought the offense back to a familiar standstill. Joel Blomqvist did what he could in net, turning aside a season-high 32 shots, but the Penguins could not find a way to make the game competitive once Utica got ahead.
For a club that had been building some traction, the bigger concern is how quickly the night slipped away after the early push faded. The shutout leaves Wilkes-Barre/Scranton searching for answers at the other end, and it also serves as a reminder that the margin for error can disappear fast when the scoring dries up. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Youth Movement Is Starting A Roster Debate They Can't Ignore
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For Pittsburgh, the temptation is obvious: the minors have produced players who are forcing the issue, and the draft lottery changes have only sharpened the pressure to find a smarter path back to contention. The risk, of course, is just as clear, because leaning too hard on youth can leave a roster exposed if the timing is off. And while the blue-line future looks promising, one of the organizations most intriguing defense prospects is still sidelined, leaving the debate centered on how aggressively the Penguins should move their forwards now. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Get A Tough Early Read Before A Brutal Weekend
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins got an early taste of what the weekend can look like when things go sideways, falling 4-0 to the Utica Comets at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza. David Rittich was sharp in net for Utica, turning aside 25 shots for the shutout, while the Penguins had chances but could not find a way through.
Joel Blomqvist did what he could to keep the game within reach, stopping a season-high 32 shots in the loss. Even with that effort, the result leaves the Penguins heading into a demanding stretch against the Hershey Bears and the Hamilton Hammers still searching for a cleaner finish and a better response. [Read more 🡒]