Matthew Tkachuk (born 11.12.1997) is an American ice hockey winger. He has been playing in the NHL since 2016 and he has played his whole NHL career with the Calgary Flames. Tkachuk is currently an alternate captain for Calgary Flames.

Early Career

Matthew Tkachuk played two years (2013-15) with the U.S. National Development Team. Tkachuk signed with the London Knights of the OHL on 8.5.2015. London Knights drafted Tkachuk in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection. Tkachuk played good 2015-16 season with the London Knights – he made 107 (30+77) points and scored winning goal in overtime for the Knights in the 2016 Memorial Cup final. Tkachuk was drafted 6th overall by Calgary Flames in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Calgary Flames

On 7.7.2016, Tkachuk signed three-year entry-level contract with the Flames. Tkachuk was a good player, but he started to gained reputation of his toughness and dirty tricks in his first season. On 20.3.2017, he was suspended two games for an elbow to the face of Los Angeles Kings Drew Doughty. Tkachuk finished 7th in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy as a rookie of the year.

In his second season (2017-18), Tkachuk was suspended twice, but in the same time, he made 49 (24+25) points in 68 games. Tkachuk was injured on 11.3.2018, and he missed the rest of the season. In season 2018-19, Tkachuk was named an alternate captain for the Flames. He made 77 (34+43) points in 80 games. On 25.9.2019, Tkachuk signed three-year contract extension with the Flames.

International Play

Matthew Tkachuk represented Team USA in the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships in Switzerland – Team USA and Tkachuk won gold medals. Tkachuk represented Team USA in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Helsinki. He and Auston Matthews each scored 11 points to lead Team USA in scoring – Team USA won bronze medals.

Other interesting stuff

Even Matthew Tkachuk is famous hockey player, he had long way to follow his father’s records. Keith Tkachuk played 18 seasons and 1201 games in the NHL and he is member of the USA Hockey Hall of Fame. Matthew Tkachuk’s younger brother, Brady, plays also in the NHL with Ottawa Senators.