The Stanley Cup returned to St. Louis in a different way than it did in 2019. Matthew Tkachuk of the Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers brought the Stanley Cup home for a celebratory visit. The visit is a reminder that the Tkachuck family is the “Royal Family” of St. Louis.
Families In Sports
Professional sports moments are always better when families are involved. Major League Baseball remembers Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. hitting back-to-back home runs while playing for the Seattle Mariners. Los Angeles Lakers fans look forward to seeing Lebron James take the court with his son, Bronny. Archie Manning, former NFL quarterback, has fond memories of his sons, Peyton and Eli, each win two Super Bowls.
Hockey has had their moments with families. The Sedin twins were part of some great seasons in Vancouever. The Bowman family has left their mark in hockey, some moments much better than others.
The Tkachuk’s
The Tkachuk family has left their mark on hockey and on the city of St. Louis. There are not the only hockey family to accomplish this. The Plaguer brothers certainly have their legacy in St. Louis. However, the Tkachuk family holds a special place in the hearts of St. Louis. It is what makes them St. Louis’s “Royal Family.”
Keith “Big Walt” Tkachuk
The patriarch of the Tkachuk family was on the path to the Hall of Fame before he even became a Blue. When he did finally become a Blue, it was clear the Blues had something special.
Big Walt scored six goals in his first 12 games with the Blues. Furthermore, he helped the team reach the 2001 Western Conference Final. He scored no less than 31 goals the following three seasons. Big Walt was loved by the fans. He was even forgiven for supporting his home-state Boston Red Sox in the 2004 World Series.
Not only did the city love Big Walt. He felt the same way in return. The example of this comes in 2007. The Blues, in the middle of a lost season, traded Big Walt to the Atlanta Thrashers. The ensuing off-season, the Blues traded back for Big Walt. Furthermore, the two sides agreed to a 2-year contract extension. Big Walt talked about the bright future the Blues had, as well as the love his family had for St. Louis.
“My family loves it in St. Louis so it was definitely a priority for me to come back here. I just didn’t think it would happen the way it did.”
Big Walt saw brighter days ahead for the Blues. Furthermore, he led by example. In the 2008-09 season, Big Walt scored 25 goals and was named an All-Star. The Blues overcame a last-place spot in the Western Conference to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In a team full of recently-drafted youngsters, Big Walt’s leadership helped the Blues succeed.
Big Walt played his final NHL game in April 2011. After the Blues defeated the Anaheim Ducks 6-3 (with two assists from Big Walt) the Blues held a post-game ceremony to honor the legend. As Big Walt skated around the ice to say goodbye to the fans, two young boys skated alongside him. They were Big Walt’s two sons, Matthew and Brady.
April 9 2010
Keith Tkachuk plays his last NHL game and records Assists on Goals by Carlo Colaiacovo & Andy McDonald
Last seconds of Keith Tkachuk’s career and skating post game with his kids Matthew, Brady & Taryn. #stlblues📷 pic.twitter.com/O4Ic8WYUI4
— STL Blues History (@STLBlueshistory) April 9, 2024
Matthew Tkachuk
Matthew was only three-years old when Big Walt was traded to the Blues. As their dad was a hockey player, Matthew and his brother, Brady, grew up around hockey. They attended Blues practices and games. Furthermore, the Tkachuk family even housed some Blues players, further exposing Matthew to the world of hockey.
While living in St. Louis, Matthew played minor ice hockey. Some of his teammates ended up making the NHL as well.
Matthew was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2016. He quickly showed he had his father’s scoring ability. Furthermore, Matthew even showed he inherited Big Walt’s physicality. Matthew would help the Flames play competitive hockey and even reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Furthermore, Matthew’s 34-goal season in 2019 coincided with the Flames earning the top seed in the Western Conference.
Matthew’s first All-Star appearance came in 2020. Coincidentally, the game was hosted by the Blues. Furthermore, Brady was also playing in his first All-Star Game. The Tkachuk brothers reunited with their father for the weekend. Matthew further saluted his St. Louis roots by wearing a Yadier Molina St. Louis Cardinals jersey during the Skills Competition.
In the summer of 2022, it seemed likely the Flames would trade Matthew. Blues fans hoped Matthew would return home, but it was not to be. Matthew was traded to the Florida Panthers. Two years later, Matthew became the first Tkachuk to win the Stanley Cup.
However, Matthew never forgot his St. Louis origins. Last week, Matthew brought the Cup to his elementary school, Villa Duchesne in St. Louis, the St. Louis Children’s Hospital and the Brentwood police and fire departments.
You can take the man out of St. Louis. However, you cannot take St. Louis out of the man.
“I just decided kind of last minute a couple days ago to throw up a Molina 4 on the back. It was pretty cool.” @TKACHUKycheese_ had to rep his hometown of St. Louis in the All-Star skills challenge on Friday night, and he knew the perfect way to do it. Just salute @Yadimolina04 pic.twitter.com/HaLNjQJYgr
— Corey Miller (@corey_miller5) January 25, 2020
Brady Tkachuk
The youngest Tkachuk has the same childhood story as his older brother, Matthew. Unfortunately for Brady, being the youngest does have his disadvantages. Brady and Matthew were know for the occasional fight in the family room at Blues games. One such fight saw the young Brady hit his head and require stitches.
Brady was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 2018. Shortly into his NHL career, Brady was named an alternate captain of the Senators. Later, the Senators gave Brady a 7-year contract extension. Furthermore, Brady was named the team captain soon after. The following season, Brady had his breakout season. In the 2021-22 season, Brady scored 30 goals. He followed that up with 35 the next year, and 37 after that. Brady has only continued to get better.
Unlike Big Walt and Matthew, Brady has not played in a Stanley Cup Playoff game. As the Senators continue to get better, the day will come where Brady does play in one. Furthermore, he may even come across his brother at some point.
Hear from Brady Tkachuk ahead of tonight’s game against the St. Louis Blues 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/GD2ELy4NvQ
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 21, 2024
The Hockey Family Tree Has Produced A Hockey Royal Family
When Matthew and Brady’s playing days are over and their careers are compared to one another’s and their dad’s, it will be discovered all three had different paths in the NHL. However, their success and what they did for the game of the hockey will be remembered forever.
Big Walt is overdue for his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Matthew and Brady are on pace to join him. The Tkachuk family tree certainly has deep roots into the game of hockey.
Morever, it also has roots into the city of St. Louis. Big Walt was unable to win a Stanley Cup with the Blues. It is unlikely Matthew and Brady ever play for the Blues. However, the family has created a hockey legacy in St. Louis. When someone says, “Tkachuk,” the immediate thought is of St. Louis.
A soon-to-be Hall of Famer, a Stanley Cup Champion, and a captain, all have roots in St. Louis. St. Louis hockey certainly has a “Royal Family.”
It’s going to be a wild night for the Tkachuk family 🎉
Matthew’s brother Brady and father Keith celebrate his first Stanley Cup.
🎥 @Sportsnetpic.twitter.com/qIyvDFmURb
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) June 25, 2024
Main Photo: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
