Matthew Tkachuk

**Matthew Tkachuk** (born on December 11, 1997 in Scottsdale, Arizona) is an American professional ice hockey player & alternate captain for the Calgary Flames in the NHL.

Tkachuk was selected sixth overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Flames.

## Playing Career

### Early Playing Career

Matthew played in the 2010 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the St. Louis Blues minor ice hockey team where he was teammates with Logan Brown, Clayton Keller and Luke Kunin.

On May 8, 2015, he gave up his NCAA eligibility when he signed with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, who had drafted him in the fourth round of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.

Playing on a line with Mitch Marner and Christian Dvorak, Matthew scored 107 points, placing him fifth in OHL scoring. He scored the game-winning goal in overtime for the Knights in the 2016 Memorial Cup final.

Leading up to the NHL draft, Matthew was the second-ranked North American skater, described as a bona fide future star for an NHL club that brings elite skills and attributes.

After his selection by the Calgary Flames in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, he was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract on July 7, 2016.

### Professional

Matthew scored his first NHL goal in a 4–3 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres. On March 20, 2017, he was suspended two games for an elbow to the face of Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.

During the next meeting between the two teams on March 29, 2017, he further settled the hit by fighting Kings defenseman Brayden McNabb. Matthew finished seventh in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy, an award awarded annually to the top rookie in the NHL.

On November 17, 2017, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Matthew was suspended one game for his part in a line brawl that took place in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on November 15, 2017. He was suspended again on December 7, 2017, for spearing Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matt Martin.

Matthew became the second youngest teenager in Flames history to reach 100 games, the first being Dan Quinn in 1985, when he played against the Arizona Coyotes on November 30, 2017.

He was injured in a game against the New York Islanders on March 11, 2018, missing the rest of the season. Despite the injury, he completed the season with a career-high 49 points.

Prior to the 2018–19 season, Matthew was named an alternate captain for the Flames, (along with Mikael Backlund & Sean Monahan). He set a new career high for points during the season and recorded his first career NHL hat-trick in a 6–3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.

On March 15, 2019, Matthew recorded his 100th career assist and became the first player from his draft class to reach that milestone. After being absent from the Flames' training camp due to an unsigned contract, he signed a three-year, $21 million extension on September 25, 2019.

## International Play

Matthew helped the United States win gold at the 2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge held in Nova Scotia. He also competed at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships, where in seven games, he registered ten assists (tops in the tournament), leading the U.S. under-18 team to a gold medal win.

At the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, held in Helsinki, Matthew and Auston Matthews each scored 11 points to lead the American team in scoring. After losing in the semi-finals, the United States defeated Sweden to claim the bronze medal.

## Personal Life

Matthew's father, Keith Tkachuk is a former NHL forward who played with the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues and the Atlanta Thrashers. His younger brother, Brady Tkachuk plays in the NHL for the Ottawa Senators.

Matthew was born in Scottsdale during Keith's stint with the Phoenix Coyotes and grew up in the St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield when Keith was traded to the St. Louis Blues.

He attended Chaminade College Preparatory School from sixth to ninth until he decided to join the United States Hockey League. While attending Chaminade, Matthew was in the same gym class as Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum.

Matthew is a second cousin of former NHL player Tom Fitzgerald (who grew up with his father and a third cousin to his son, Ryan. He is also a cousin of NHL player Kevin and Jimmy Hayes.

Tkachuk is a Ukrainian surname (although his father has said that his family background and name is either "Polish or Russian").

Matthew is also of Canadian descent as his mother Chantal (who is of Ukrainian descent) is a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; she met Keith during his stint with the original Winnipeg Jets.