Sports have often produced some incredible names in many weird combinations that the alphabet has to offer. From an NBA player like Giannis Antetokounmpo to the NFL with Tua Tagovailoa, there are many who would struggle without the league’s pronunciation guide.
The NHL is no different — with players coming from all over the world and from many walks of life. How many people on the street could correctly say the names Brady Skjei, Arber Xhekaj or Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen?
What about the Tkachuk brothers?
Matthew and Brady, the sons of former NHL Keith Tkachuk, have carried the family name into today’s NHL. The siblings are two of the biggest stars in the game, and due to that, there are plenty of fans trying to say their name the right way.
But what is the correct way? The Sporting News walks you through the pronunciation of Tkachuk
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How do you pronounce Tkachuk?
As far as names go, Tkachuk’s is quite an easy one to say, once you get past that funky arrangement of consonants at the beginning: “kuh-chuck.”
Hockey fans might also recognize his name from a former NHL player that spent 18 seasons in the league while also being a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame — Keith Tkachuk.
The Tkachuk surname is Ukrainian, although his father has stated in the past that his family background and name could be Polish, Russian, or Ukrainian.
Back in 2016 before Matthew was drafted by the Flames, he played in the BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game for scouts and executives. Tkachuk joked that he hoped former Canadian broadcaster and coach, Don Cherry, would be able to pronounce his name by the end of the game. Cherry famously couldn’t pronounce it properly when Tkachuk’s father played.
“Hopefully I have a good enough game that (Cherry) can pronounce my name by the end of it,” he joked.
Years later, he no longer has to worry. He, and his brother’s, rise to superstardom in the NHL has made him a household name among diehard hockey fans, and with his popularity growing evermore, the Tkachuk name is starting to pick up steam outside puck fanatics.
