It's hard to overstate how important the Tkachuk family is to hockey right now, especially in America. Keith Tkachuk is a player who has scored 500 goals and 1,000 points and has also played over 2,000 penalty minutes in his career. He was the epitome of the power forward that dominated the position in the '90s.
Matthew and Brady grew up on the game. They were always around the rink and in the locker room with guys who played on the edge. In today's sports, most hockey players care more about their highlight reels on Instagram than about playing the right game. But Matthew and Brady Tkachuk are nostalgic for Big Walt's style of play, 20 years on. They score a ton of goals, make a ton of plays, and piss off a ton of people. They have everything you could want in a hockey player.
The only thing missing from Keith Tkachuk's career was a Stanley Cup ring, but tonight, thanks to his son's performance, he finally has a chance to hoist the Cup for the first time.
I know the Florida Panthers technically won the Stanley Cup tonight, but we will forever remember this night as the night the Tkachuk family got their name engraved on the Cup forever. This family deserves to celebrate tonight as much as they can, and to work hard all summer long.
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You know how much it means to them. And that right there is the face of American hockey. That's what the game is all about. The talent is outstanding, but they pride themselves on their physical play and their ability to impact the game outside of the scoresheet. When the NHL finally allows players to compete in the Olympics again, they should put a “C” on Matthew's jersey and an “A” on Brady's jersey and make Big Walt give his sons a Herb Brooks speech before the game. This family is so amazing. These are memories they'll all cherish forever.
Side note: While we're on the topic of heartwarming family moments, this speech by Paul Maurice is amazing.
Damn, dude, I'm gonna have a little cry before watching this at least five more times.
