Keith Tkachuk by no means gained the Stanley Cup throughout his storied 18-season NHL profession, however he is lifted it a number of occasions.
Most not too long ago it was on the ice in Dawn, as his son Matthew handed him the chalice after the Florida Panthers‘ second straight championship. He stood close to heart ice as a proud hockey dad: Matthew elevating the Cup in victory along with his brother, Ottawa Senators star Brady Tkachuk, standing a number of toes away.
A couple of months earlier, Keith watched his sons transcend hockey on the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, after they have been the catalysts for the three fights in 9 seconds that led off the first USA showdown against Canada.
Their superstar standing retains rising: Matthew and Brady Tkachuk are the duvet athletes for EA NHL 26. They seem on the Deluxe Version cowl with their father. The latest NHL recreation options the incorporation of NHL EDGE puck and participant monitoring information and revamped “Be A Participant” mode.
The Tkachuks are additionally making their mark on TV: After Matthew was a focus in Season 1, Brady Tkachuk was the primary participant revealed for Season 2 of “Faceoff: Contained in the NHL,” the docuseries on Amazon Prime.
“My spouse and I reside the dream proper now. There’s nothing higher than seeing your children do what they like to do greatest,” Keith Tkachuk instructed ESPN not too long ago.
As a lot as he is happy with their NHL accomplishments, Tkachuk mentioned it is what folks do not see about his sons which means much more to him.
“They carry themselves nicely off the ice. They do the issues that we taught them rising up. They respect the folks across the rink. They’re all the time very cordial,” he mentioned.
“Now, I can see why folks need to punch them within the face on the ice, however they’re nice children. They’re nice function fashions. They’re nice brothers. They usually’re nice sons.”
We spoke with Keith Tkachuk about his NHL star offspring, partying with the Panthers, the 2026 Winter Olympics, and the way he feels about his ongoing Hockey Corridor of Fame “snub.”
Matthew and Brady are the 2026 cowl athletes for EA Sports activities NHL sequence. Had been video video games large within the Tkachuk home after they have been rising up?
Tkachuk: With Brady greater than Matthew. We stored our children busy quite a bit, however they’d play no matter video video games that they had after they had time. Now once I go go to Brady in Ottawa, as soon as he places his son to mattress, he is proper again downstairs taking part in video video games along with his buddies.
And when Matthew was taking part in in Calgary, I keep in mind getting as much as go to the lavatory at 2 within the morning and seeing his door closed with the lights flashing beneath it. The following day I requested him what he was doing and he is mentioned he was taking part in video video games. I am like, “You gotta get some relaxation, child.”
They’re each nonetheless children, in my thoughts. It is simply phenomenal that they are getting a possibility to do that cowl. They’ve labored their tails off to get right here.
Apparently, you are an EA cowl athlete your self, on their deluxe model of the sport.
Tkachuk: Hopefully my scores are higher than Brady’s and Matthew’s.
You have been on the ice with Matthew and with Brady when the Panthers repeated as champions. What was that second like?
Tkachuk: Two years in the past, we have been going loopy. I do know that is going to sound terrible, nevertheless it felt like routine this time round. However to have the ability to have a good time it with Matthew — and clearly Brady was on the ice and my spouse, my daughter, and the entire household — and see what him and his teammates have gone by during the last three years … they’re simply constructed totally different down there. They are surely.
It was a whole lot of enjoyable. And the following 5 days have been a lot more fun too. They’re so good on the ice, however they’re even higher off the ice.
As a former participant, how impressed are you by how onerous the Panthers go after they win?
Tkachuk: You are a little bit jealous, simply due to how shut they’re as a workforce. It felt prefer it went on for weeks.
Florida GM Invoice Zito instructed me a number of occasions that the swagger, the perspective, the best way they carry themselves as a franchise straight comes from their acquisition of Matthew in a roundabout way. How a lot satisfaction do you absorb realizing the distinction Matthew made for that workforce?
Tkachuk: You have to give Invoice Zito credit score. It took a whole lot of guts to make it transfer like that — and with the possession permitting that to occur, you bought to offer them credit score too.
However I am fairly blissful for Matthew. He picked Florida. That was his vacation spot, they usually have been in a position to get a deal performed. Paul Maurice is an outstanding coach, and him and Matthew virtually have that very same persona. All of them get alongside. All of them have one aim in thoughts, and that is to win.
Matthew has the 2 rings. He is been to the ultimate three straight years. Brady lastly makes the playoffs with Ottawa final season. It was an attention-grabbing 12 months for him with the Senators. What did you make of that second when their proprietor spoke out in opposition to groups “smooth tampering” with Brady and declaring he wasn’t going anyplace regardless of those that really feel he may need out?
Tkachuk: I would not imagine all the pieces you hear. I believe after what occurred with Matthew in Calgary, everybody simply assumes that is going to occur with Brady [in Ottawa].
However Brady loves it there. Brady has actually cemented himself in the neighborhood. They are a workforce on the rise. They received an important bunch of younger gamers. They’re core gamers. The followers and the town itself deal with him so nicely. He desires to be a giant a part of that shifting ahead. So I do not assume he is going anyplace.
Clearly, Matthew and Brady gave us fairly a present on the 4 Nations Face-Off for Crew USA. What would it not imply to you in the event that they have been in a position to win the primary Olympic gold medal in males’s hockey for the Individuals since 1980 after they play within the 2026 Winter Video games?
Tkachuk: It will imply all the pieces. It actually would. I imply, only for them to each be named among the first six chosen is superb.
However it’s extra about them taking part in collectively at such a excessive stage, in essentially the most watched factor in all probability in all of the sports activities, the Winter Olympics. I do know they actually loved taking part in collectively at 4 Nations. I imply, it was one thing to see. It actually was. They’d a lot enjoyable.
The worst half about the entire thing was after they went to their coaching camp for the 4 Nations they usually iced me out. They knew I had FOMO. I knew it was Matthew. He would not let Brady reply my cellphone calls. They iced me out for 4 days till I lastly went to Montreal to see them.
I needed to ask you in regards to the large change we have seen in faculty hockey eligibility guidelines not too long ago. Brady selected Boston College, the place you performed as nicely. Matthew selected to play for the London Knights. What are your ideas on these two paths now that younger stars like Gavin McKenna are allowed to go from taking part in in Canadian juniors to a school like Penn State?
Tkachuk: They’re each nice paths to get to the NHL. All of it depends upon the participant. Again then, earlier than the brand new guidelines, you had to select. Matthew was a late birthday. He needed to go play for the London Knights for [Dale and Mark] Hunter. To have the ability to play with Christian Dvorak and Mitch Marner was an enormous plus. Matthew needed that have of taking part in an 80-plus-game-schedule, together with playoffs, and went out and gained a Memorial Cup.
Brady in all probability wasn’t as developed on the time as Matthew was. Brady needed that faculty really feel — that capability for him to get stronger and get greater. It is a lesser schedule, however he felt that was the fitting path and it was.
Now with the rule modifications, I believe it is nice. Gavin McKenna had phenomenal years at Drugs Hat. He is probably the greatest gamers I’ve seen in a very long time. Now he will get to play a schedule the place he can depend on getting stronger, getting greater, taking part in in opposition to older gamers. I believe it is a good alternative for these children to have an opportunity to go play for Boston College or Michigan State or Penn State, wherever they go. You have to do what’s greatest for you. And the NIL cash’s loopy.
You’d have been OK with an additional $700,000 in your pocket again in your NCAA days?
Tkachuk: I’d have settled for a couple of dollars per week.
After taking part in at Boston College in 1990-91, you launched into a profession that many individuals imagine must be honored by the Hockey Corridor of Fame. There have been 48 NHL gamers to attain 500 objectives, and also you’re one among solely 4 retired ones to not be inducted but. What does it imply to you while you see followers, media, hockey folks, whomever, rally to the trigger and say that Keith Tkachuk must be within the Corridor of Fame?
Tkachuk: I imply, there’s nothing I can do. I admire the help. I actually do. If it occurs, nice. If it would not, life goes on. However my children are my Corridor of Fame. I take pleasure in watching them. I work for the Blues, however I additionally get to see my children play and see them develop up.
It was an honor to play within the NHL. The sport has modified my life. If it occurs, I do know my mom might be extraordinarily blissful. I believe she’s one who takes it the toughest.
We have to get her in entrance of the choice committee. Talking of household: Do you’re feeling that the accomplishments for Matthew and Brady have maybe raised your individual profile in relation to the Corridor of Fame? Do you assume the truth that folks speak about you after they speak about them may assist your possibilities for induction?
Tkachuk: Effectively, it definitely would not harm them. Life goes on while you’re retired, whether or not you had an important profession, a median profession or no matter. I believe the success of the boys — with the 4 Nations, and clearly Matthew doing nicely and Brady taking part in within the Canadian market — it positively provides you a little bit further enhance.
However I do not have a look at it that approach. I simply have a look at it as I am their dad. I really like watching my children play. I simply needed to be round them. And this has been a heck of a trip, although.