Matthew Tkachuk

Matthew Tkachuk
Born (1997-12-11) December 11, 1997
Scottsdale, Arizona
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shoots Left
NHL team Calgary Flames
NHL Draft 6th overall, 2016
Calgary Flames
Playing career 2016present

Matthew Tkachuk (/kəˈʌk/; born December 11, 1997) is an American ice hockey player of Ukrainian descent. He is currently playing with the Calgary Flames in the National Hockey League (NHL). Tkachuk is a top rated prospect who went 6th overall at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft to the Flames.[1][2] Tkachuk was born in Scottsdale, Arizona, but grew up in St. Louis, Missouri.

Playing career

Major junior

On May 8, 2015, Tkachuk gave up his NCAA eligibility when he signed with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), who had drafted him in the 4th round of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.[3] Playing on a line with Mitchell Marner and Christian Dvorak, Tkachuk scored 107 points placing him 5th in OHL scoring.

Leading up to the NHL draft, Tkachuk was ranked the No. 2 North American skater, described as a bona-fide future star for an NHL club that brings elite skills and attributes.[4] After his selection by the Calgary Flames, 6th overall, Tkachuk was signed to a three-year entry-level contract on July 7, 2016.[5]

NHL

Tkachuk scored his first NHL goal with the Flames' October 18, 2016 in a game against the Buffalo Sabres. He became the first player to score a Memorial Cup overtime-winning goal to play in the NHL.

International play

Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's ice hockey
IIHF World U18 Championship
2015 Switzerland
IIHF World U20 Championship
2016 Finland

Tkachuk helped Team USA win gold at the 2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge held in Nova Scotia, Canada.[6] He also competed at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships, where in seven games he registered 10 assists (tops in the tournament), leading the United States men's national under-18 ice hockey team to a gold medal win.[7]

At the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championships held in Helsinki, Tkachuk and Auston Matthews each scored 11 points to lead the American team in scoring. After losing in the semifinals, the American team beat Sweden to claim the bronze medal.

Personal life

His father, Keith Tkachuk, played 1,201 games in the National Hockey League and is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.[8] His younger brother, Brady Tkachuk, plays with the National Team Development Program. Tkachuk was born in Scottsdale during his father's stint with the Phoenix Coyotes, and grew up in the St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield, Missouri.

Tkachuk is second cousins to former NHL player Tom Fitzgerald, who grew up with his father. Tkachuk is a Ukrainian surname, although his father has suggested that his family background and name is either "Polish, Russian, [or] Ukrainian."[9] Tkachuk is also of Canadian descent, as his mother Chantal is a native of Winnipeg, who met his father during his stint with the original Winnipeg Jets.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2013–14 U.S. National Development Team USHL 33 5 12 17 18
2014–15 U.S. National Development Team USHL 24 13 20 33 75
2015–16 London Knights OHL 57 30 77 107 80 18 20 20 40 42
OHL totals 57 307710780 18 20 20 40 42

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2014 United States U17 1st, gold medalist(s) 6 4 3 7 2
2015 United States WJC18 1st, gold medalist(s) 7 2 10 12 4
2016 United States WJC 3rd, bronze medalist(s) 7 4 7 11 6
Junior totals 20 10 20 30 12

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
World U-17 Hockey Challenge Gold Medal 2014 [10]
IIHF World U18 Championship Gold Medal 2015 [11]

References

  1. Jeff Langridge (2015-08-08). "Maple Leafs Will Probably Take Matthew Tkachuk in 2016 Draft The Hockey Writers". Thehockeywriters.com. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  2. "U.S. forward Tkachuk conjures memories of dad – 2016 World Junior Championship". NHL.com. 2014-11-17. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  3. "Keith Tkachuk's son Matthew commits to London Knights. Here's why that's big news". The Hockey News. 2015-05-08. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  4. "Dubois jumps to top of draft rankings". NHL.com. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  5. "Flames sign Matthew Tkachuk". Calgary Flames. 2016-07-07. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  6. "Golden boy comes north | The London Free Press". Lfpress.com. 2015-05-08. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  7. "Matthew Tkachuk signs with London Knights (OHL) – SB Nation College Hockey". Sbncollegehockey.com. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  8. Chapin Landvogt (2015-04-16). "Like father like son – WM18 – International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF". U18worlds2015.iihf.com. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  9. "Athlete profile: Keith Tkachuk". 3 February 1998. CNN / Sports Illustrated. February 3, 1998. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  10. "Matthew Tkachuk". Worldjuniors.usahockey.com. 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  11. "Matt Tkachuk signs with London Knights, reflects on U18 team winning gold medal". West Newsmagazine. 2015-05-15. Retrieved 2015-09-19.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Sam Bennett
Calgary Flames' first round draft pick
2016
Succeeded by
Incumbent
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