Matthew Tkachuk
Matthew Tkachuk | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Scottsdale, Arizona | December 11, 1997||
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 | 2016–present |
Matthew Tkachuk (/kəˈtʃʌk/; born December 11, 1997) is an American ice hockey player. 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]
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 | 30 | 77 | 107 | 80 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 42 |
International
Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | United States | U17 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | ||
2015 | United States | WJC18 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 4 | ||
2016 | United States | WJC | 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
- ^ Jeff Langridge (August 8, 2015). "Maple Leafs Will Probably Take Matthew Tkachuk in 2016 Draft The Hockey Writers". Thehockeywriters.com. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. forward Tkachuk conjures memories of dad – 2016 World Junior Championship". NHL.com. November 17, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ "Keith Tkachuk's son Matthew commits to London Knights. Here's why that's big news". The Hockey News. May 8, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ "Dubois jumps to top of draft rankings". NHL.com. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
- ^ "Flames sign Matthew Tkachuk". Calgary Flames. July 7, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Golden boy comes north | The London Free Press". Lfpress.com. May 8, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ "Matthew Tkachuk signs with London Knights (OHL) – SB Nation College Hockey". Sbncollegehockey.com. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ Chapin Landvogt (April 16, 2015). "Like father like son – WM18 – International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF". U18worlds2015.iihf.com. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ "Athlete profile: Keith Tkachuk". 3 February 1998. CNN / Sports Illustrated. February 3, 1998. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
- ^ "Matthew Tkachuk". Worldjuniors.usahockey.com. July 13, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ "Matt Tkachuk signs with London Knights, reflects on U18 team winning gold medal". West Newsmagazine. May 15, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
External links
Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- 1997 births
- Living people
- American ice hockey players
- American people of Irish descent
- American people of Ukrainian descent
- Calgary Flames draft picks
- Calgary Flames players
- Ice hockey people from Arizona
- Ice hockey people from Missouri
- London Knights players
- National Hockey League first round draft picks
- Sportspeople from Scottsdale, Arizona
- Sportspeople from St. Louis
- USA Hockey National Team Development Program players
- American ice hockey biography stubs