Hockey has always been a family affair for the Tkachuk crew.
From mom, Chantal, taking her sons, Matthew and Brady, and daughter, Taryn, to watch their father, Keith, over the course of his NHL career to driving the boys to their youth hockey games around the St. Louis area to cheering them on as they embarked on their own NHL careers, the game has always been the thread that ties the family together.
There are memorable moments of the Tkachuks on the ice for an emotional ceremony when the St. Louis Blues saluted the end of Keith’s 19-year NHL career, and the family bundled up in Team USA garb as their dad competed in his fourth and final Olympics in Torino, Italy, in 2006.
But the skate was on the other foot this past June. Keith was surrounded by Chantal, Brady and Taryn as they watched the seconds tick down on the final game of the Stanley Cup Final with Matthew’s Florida Panthers clinging to a 2-1 lead against the Edmonton Oilers.
In the moments that followed, ESPN’s cameras zoomed in on dad overcome with emotion, celebrating something he had not been able to accomplish during his Hall of Fame career – win a Stanley Cup.
“To feel their continued support and having them there to celebrate it was so amazing and special to me,” Matthew said.
“All the memories of growing up playing street hockey with my brother, having my dad coach me, having my mom take me to all the tournaments, having my sister sacrifice a lot so that I could play hockey, it just meant the world to have them there.”
Matthew was able to show his appreciation minutes later. Packed on the ice at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., with other family members and well-wishers, Matthew grabbed the Cup and passed it over to his dad. For one of the cornerstones of what has been hailed as the greatest generation of American hockey players, it was a proud papa moment that dwarfed the memories from his own playing career.
“What a feeling,” the elder Tkachuk said during a family Zoom interview with USA Hockey Magazine. “Anytime your kids can fulfill their dream, it’s something we’re very proud of. I’m sure I would’ve felt the same way if we were at whatever tournament and the boys won.
“It was kind of a blur. It happened so quickly that night. It was just an incredible feeling. To see him bring the Cup back to St. Louis was really special because this is basically where it started.”
The ensuing days and weeks were a haze for the family. Running on no sleep, Matthew and his teammates made the rounds of Fort Lauderdale, celebrating the organization’s first championship with fans everywhere they went.
The players were celebrating at a local establishment in the early morning hours when Brady convinced his brother to take the Cup for a swim, much to the delight of Panthers fans who watched Matthew march the Cup down across the sand and into the Atlantic Ocean for a celebratory plunge.
Little did they know that salt water and sterling silver go together as well as the Panthers and Oilers did on the ice.
“I just thought it’d be a great idea (for Matthew) to take it into the Atlantic Ocean and just celebrate and have fun with it,” said the younger brother who is carving out his own NHL legacy as the captain of the Ottawa Senators. “I had no idea it was against the rules to take [the Cup] in salt water.”
Matthew was able to catch up on his sleep in the weeks that followed. He shaved his championship beard and returned to his roots with the Stanley Cup in tow. His first stop was the St. Louis Children’s Hospital, followed by visits to a local police department and firehouse.
From the time they were young, the Tkachuk siblings have been taught the importance of giving back to any community. This was Matthew’s chance to thank all those who supported and did so much for him along his journey.
“Our family is a very charitable family, and I’ve learned it from my mom and dad,” Matthew said. “Those are qualities that were instilled in us ever since I can remember.
“Being able to bring [the Cup to the children’s hospital] was the number one thing I wanted to do when I got my day with the Cup. It’s just super special. These kids go through stuff that I could never imagine. Even if it’s for a few minutes, to put a big smile on their faces was super important, and that’s really what it’s all about.
“Then to visit the first responders, the police and firemen, that was another thing that I really wanted to do because I don’t think they get enough credit for how incredible they are and the amount of tough work that they have to do.”
After seeing his brother fulfill his childhood dream, Brady now has extra motivation as he enters his seventh season in Ottawa.
“To see Matthew lift up the Cup was one of the most amazing moments of my life,” said Brady, who is two years younger.
“The dream has always been to win a Stanley Cup, but for my best friend to be able to do it, it gives me that burning desire even more to join that club and also provide that excitement that he gave to our family, our friends and to the city of Fort Lauderdale. That’s something you want to do for yourself and your community, and just to create those memories together.”
Despite their close bonds, the Tkachuk brothers know that the road to NHL success runs through each other. Since Matthew was traded to Florida in the summer of 2022, he is now in the same division as Brady’s Senators, which means more clashes during the season.
The Tkachuk sons have followed in their father’s footsteps when it comes to playing a hard-nosed style with a ton of skill. Their on-ice sibling rivalry hasn’t really materialized since Brady typically draws the attention of Aleksander Barkov, one of the Panthers’ top defensive forwards, which is just fine with Matthew.
“Brady is the epitome of a power forward in the NHL, and there’s nobody that plays like him and there’s nobody that is a physical freak like him that has the skill to back it up as well,” Matthew said. “Every year he continues to get just so much better. I can’t wait to see what he does this year.”
Brady appreciates the moments the two brothers get to spend together before and after a game more than their puck battles.
“It’s not fun to play against him with the skillset that he has,” Brady said. “It seems like he’s always at his best when he plays us.
“They’re always fun games to watch and always plenty of entertainment during those games. As many times as there have been outrageous games, it’s always nice to catch up after and just to be able to spend time with him is my favorite part.”
For mom and dad, it’s a delicate balancing act when it comes to supporting their sons in those games. Just seeing them follow in their father’s footsteps and do what they have always dreamed of doing means everyone is a winner.
“I find it very stressful because obviously you want them both to succeed,” Chantal said. “It’s hard, but it’s all good. We’re blessed to be in the situation where they’re both playing in the NHL.”
One hard and fast rule in the Tkachuk household is that no matter how heated things may get on the ice, Chantal has laid down the law that there will be no fighting among the Tkachuk boys.
“That is a 100% true,” she said. “I hope they listen to me.”