Will Horcoff Pickleball Family Tradition: Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Will Horcoff has a deep connection to pickleball, a sport he has played since childhood. The 18-year-old forward grew up in Detroit suburbs with a backyard court built by his father, former NHL player Shawn Horcoff. For Will, pickleball has always been about family, fun, and competition.
Growing Up with Pickleball
Will Horcoff recalled his early years spent playing the game at his family’s homes in Birmingham and later Bloomfield Hills.
“We’ve kind of played our whole lives. Our old house in Birmingham had a court in the backyard and so does our new house in Bloomfield Hills, so it’s one thing that I’ve played since I was very young. It’s something that my family has always played,” (Will Horcoff).
Friends often joined in as well, making the court a gathering place. Horcoff, a first-round NHL Draft pick (24th overall) this past June, said,
“My friends would come over and play, too. We would just play all the time growing up.”
Hockey Ties on the Pickleball Court
Pickleball was not just a family sport for the Horcoffs. Guests included Stanley Cup champions Kris Draper and Dan Cleary, who joined Shawn Horcoff and his colleagues on the backyard court. Shawn now works as assistant general manager of the Detroit Red Wings and as general manager of the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
Will remembered the intensity of those matches.
“I just love how competitive it was. They’d be best friends, but screaming at each other and going at it. That’s what I loved about it, just guys getting super into it. Those were really fun games to watch. There were some pretty heated matches.”(Will Horcoff)
Father-Son Showdowns
One of Will’s fondest memories was playing against his father.
“We’d go at it a lot one-on-one against each other. Growing up, he would always beat me, but I think the case is different now. I think I’ve finally gotten to the point where I’m better than him. He probably wouldn’t admit it, but I think I am,” (Will Horcoff said with a laugh).
He shared one of his most recent wins.
“I played him once in doubles this year and I won 11-4. I haven’t played him in singles in a while. That’s one thing I wish I did this summer, but I was really busy training.”
Pickleball at Michigan
Now a sophomore at the University of Michigan, Will Horcoff hopes to continue playing pickleball in Ann Arbor when his hockey and academic schedule allows. He mentioned that teammates Michael Hage, Nick Moldenhauer, T.J. Hughes, and Kienan Draper enjoy the game too.
“It’s just one of those activities where it could help you get closer with the boys. Any chance you get to get together and play a sport, it’s competitive and fun. Pickleball falls right into that category.
“I think we’ll add that to our team culture this year and do that more often to get the guys closer together. We were planning on getting out there in the next couple of weeks and playing against each other.”(Will Horcoff)
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Skills and Style on Court
At 6-foot-5, Will Horcoff’s height and reach give him a strong advantage in pickleball. He also grew up playing tennis, which sharpened his racquet skills.
“I always played tennis my whole life and I really enjoyed it. I like how pickleball takes more touch. You can’t really slam the ball. I like playing around the kitchen. Kitchen battles are fun.
That’s what I like about the game. It takes really good hand-eye coordination and good touch. And one thing I have is reach. I’ve got really long arms, so I’m pretty good around the net.”(Will Horcoff)
Family Tradition
For the Horcoff family, pickleball is a shared passion.
“Everyone plays. We have a very competitive family, so we clashed against each other on the court and played matches against each other all the time in the backyard. My mom plays. Sometimes her friends will come over and play.
I have two sisters who are also really athletic and love sports. One’s 20. She’s in college. The other’s 10, and she recently won her inter-club tennis championship at her club, so she likes racquet sports as well.”(Will Horcoff)
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Lasting Impact
For Will Horcoff, pickleball has been more than just a game. It has been a way to bond with family, connect with hockey teammates, and build skills that support his athletic career. As he moves forward with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the University of Michigan, those backyard memories continue to shape how he views competition and teamwork.
News in Brief: Will Horcoff Pickleball Family Tradition
Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Will Horcoff grew up playing pickleball on his family’s backyard court, built by his father, former NHL player Shawn Horcoff. The University of Michigan forward recalls competitive games with family, teammates, and even NHL veterans. For Will, pickleball remains a family tradition and a way to build team spirit.
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