Matthew Tkachuk has become one of the biggest stars in the NHL, leading the Florida Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. The veteran forward, who began his career with the Calgary Flames, has elevated his status to the point where he also serves as a leader of the U.S. national team.
Despite being born and raised in the United States, Tkachuk had a career path similar to that of Canadian players. Most American hockey players attend college for a few years, but Tkachuk chose the path he felt would best prepare him for the NHL.
Here’s a look at how Tkachuk spent his pre-NHL years.
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Where did Matthew Tkachuk go to college?
Matthew Tkachuk initially committed to attend the University of Notre Dame when eligible. However, he later de-committed, choosing instead to play in the OHL for the London Knights.
A few years earlier, in 2013, the London Knights drafted Tkachuk in the OHL draft and retained his rights. After several years with the U.S. National Team Development Program, Tkachuk decided to forfeit his NCAA eligibility and develop at the OHL level.
“I talked to my family and thought it was the right place to spend the next couple of years and develop more as a player,” Tkachuk told West News Magazine in 2015. “They had my rights.”
Where is Matthew Tkachuk from?
Tkachuk was born in Scottsdale, Arizona, but lived in St. Louis, Missouri, until high school, when he moved to Michigan to play for the U.S. National Team Development Program.
Tkachuk’s father, Keith, had a varied NHL career that determined where the family lived. Keith Tkachuk was playing for the Phoenix Coyotes in 1997 and remained in Arizona until the 2000–01 season, when he was traded to the St. Louis Blues.
The Tkachuks lived in St. Louis for the next decade, as Keith played for the Blues for all but half a season between 2001 and 2010. Keith retired in 2010, but the family remained in St. Louis.
When Matthew became serious about playing hockey, he joined the U.S. NTDP in Michigan before deciding to play for the London Knights in the OHL.
Matthew Tkachuk college stats
Tkachuk didn’t attend college, instead opting to play one year for the London Knights of the OHL before joining the NHL. Here’s a look at his stats in his one season for the Knights in 2015-2016:
- Games: 57
- Goals: 30
- Assists: 77
- Points: 107
