theathleticuk
On Monday night, Keith Tkachuk stood at a podium in Toronto at the Hockey Hall of Fame, delivering his induction speech to an audience of hockey legends and a global television viewership. The 54-year-old made it through the speech with composure.
However, just five nights later, as he walked toward center ice at Enterprise Center on Saturday for a ceremonial puck drop honoring his induction, Tkachuk struggled to hold back his emotions. The players lined up for the faceoff were his sons, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers, and St. Louis Blues captain Robert Thomas, who had lived with the Tkachuk family when he first entered the NHL.
"I'm not going to lie to you, I was nervous up in Toronto, but walking on the ice, I felt like I was starting to get emotional because I love St. Louis, I love my boys and I love Robert Thomas," Tkachuk told The Athletic. "That's why I tried not to look at my boys."
In a touching gesture, the Tkachuk brothers held game-used sticks from their father's 18-year career. "Oh my gosh, so fun!" Matthew Tkachuk said. "We came out with his old sticks. I used his original one and Brady used his last one. I can't believe he was able to use that first stick. It was just amazing. The crowd was incredible."
The moment was memorable for the 18,096 fans in attendance and will certainly be a keepsake for the family. "That's going in my office for sure," Keith said. "I know that picture is going up in all of our offices," Matthew added.
Unfortunately for the Blues, the loudest applause of the night came during the ceremony, as the Panthers defeated St. Louis 4-1, with Matthew and Brady combining for three points (one goal, two assists). The hometown crowd could only reflect on what might have been if the boys—Matthew, 28, and Brady, 27—had come home to St. Louis instead of ending up in Sunrise, Florida.
That ship has sailed, however, so one had to be happy for the Tkachuks, who waited years for Dad to get the call from the Hall. That call came in June, and five months later, he delivered a flawless "Thank you!" to parents John and Gerry, wife Chantal, Matthew, Brady, and daughter Taryn. "I haven't watched it, but I got a lot of good feedback," Keith said. "I didn't want to go up there and talk about myself. I wanted to talk about the people that got me there. That's more important to me than anything."
Matthew and Brady were both in attendance Monday in Toronto, as Florida had the day off. They flew from Boston, where they played on Sunday, to Toronto, and then moved on to Columbus for a game Tuesday. "I looked ahead at the schedule right when it was announced," Matthew said. "I didn't know how we were going to get to Columbus, but I was going to be there Monday and it worked out. I knew it was going to be amazing and it just blew it out of the water. I'm so proud and happy for my dad."
"They wouldn't have missed it. For him to get recognized on that stage, it was so well-deserved," Brady said. "For him to be remembered forever as a Hall of Famer, it's truly special."
"I'm humbled to join Al MacInnis, Bernie Federko, Brett Hull, Peter Stastny and Chris Pronger, all true Blues here in the Hockey Hall of Fame. I treasure the years of playing in St. Louis."
The Tkachuks felt a little indebted to the NHL schedule-makers for that one, and again Saturday when the Panthers' next game took them to St. Louis, where the team would pay tribute to a player who scored 208 of his 534 career goals during a nine-year stay in the early 2000s. "It's fitting the boys are in town playing my team," Keith said. "You can't script it any better," Matthew said.
If that wasn't enough, it was Florida's Dads trip, so the elder Tkachuk spent Friday night hosting the Panthers fathers. He took them to the popular hockey bar, OB Clark's. "It was only supposed to be for a couple (beers), but ended up being 2 (o'clock) in the morning," Keith said. But all of them made it to Saturday's morning skate at 9:30 a.m. at Enterprise Center. "Maybe some sluggish dads today, but sometimes you get Big Walted!" Brady said. "Some guys are a little hurt today, but they had a lot of fun."
The players, and perhaps the dads, too, took afternoon naps, and a few hours later it was time for the Tkachuks to play their first game in St. Louis as members of the same team. It's something the two have looked forward to ever since Brady got traded to Florida in June. "We've scored millions of goals in this rink—just us two—and now we're doing it at the highest stage in the NHL and doing it on a Saturday night in front of however many friends and family," Matthew said. "It really is surreal." "It comes full circle," Brady said. "This place, this city, is our home. It's so special for everybody seeing us play together for the first time in St. Louis."
Continuing with the script, Brady scored his 11th goal of the season just five minutes, 12 seconds into the first period on an assist by Matthew for a 1-0 Panthers lead. "Which I missed because I was walking up to my seat," Keith said. "Did he?" Matthew asked. "He was probably signing stuff and kissing babies. He missed a helluva goal."
In the first intermission, Tkachuk did an interview with Blues TV broadcaster Chris Kerber that was heard inside the arena. They played highlights of Tkachuk's career, including his final game April 9, 2010, at Enterprise Center. "It reminds me of when I skated with all three (children) when they came out and we did that lap," Keith said. In that video, Keith said that he hopes his two boys can play on the ice some day. And while they had come back separately—Matthew with Calgary and Florida and Brady with Ottawa—they came together Saturday and teamed up for some offense. "It was nice to get that one early and have us connecting on the same goal," Matthew said. "Brady's playing great. He's been putting the puck in the net. It's been easy for me to play with."
If it only could have been as members of the Blues. "Yeah, who knows, but they're very happy where they are now," Keith said. "They're on a team that is going to push to be a Stanley Cup champion again. I'm just happy they're happy."
Panthers coach Paul Maurice is happy to have them. "Character—it's how they treat people," Maurice said. "When I was coaching in Winnipeg, I heard all kinds of very quiet stories about the great things that (Keith) did in the community there. He didn't do it for the press—it was private—and I watch those two young men how they treat everybody: the coaches, the trainers, the people on our plane, the guys on the bus. They're just wonderful, character men."
Blues coach Jim Montgomery can confirm that. "I've seen the Tkachuk brothers text young kids in St. Louis when they win a championship," Montgomery said. "The thoughtfulness they have, they represent St. Louis, the family does, in an incredible way. It's a great honor for Keith and should have happened years ago, but he's in and it's great. It's another Blues alumni that's in the Hall of Fame."
And it turned out, Keith was more nervous about the pre-game face-off Saturday than his Hall of Fame induction speech. "I'm so grateful to everybody here in St. Louis," Keith said.
Key Analysis
The Tkachuk family's deep connection to St. Louis was on full display during a weekend that celebrated Keith's Hall of Fame legacy while showcasing the talents of his sons. Despite the Blues' loss, the event highlighted the family's enduring impact on the hockey community and the bittersweet reality of Matthew and Brady thriving elsewhere in the NHL.
Originally reported by theathleticuk.