The Tkachuks Take South Florida Collectively
Matthew Tkachuk definitely is aware of his means round Fort Lauderdale by now. He is aware of the place to convey his dad and mom for seafood, a romantic place to have a good time his anniversary, and the right spot for espresso that fuels the expertise we’ve all come to like.
4 years after becoming a member of the Florida Panthers, the 28-year-old has turn out to be as recognizable round city as he’s at Amerant Financial institution Enviornment. Now getting into his eleventh NHL season, Tkachuk desires that affect to stay grounded in the usual that helped remodel the Panthers into the champions they’re.
“I simply need to proceed being the chief that I’m and drag guys alongside into the struggle with me,” Matthew says. “Hopefully, we are able to get again to playoff hockey and attempt to obtain our final aim once more this yr.”
That mission comes with a unprecedented addition. His youthful brother, Brady, is now sporting a Panthers sweater, too.
The brothers have represented the USA collectively on the 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, the place successful gold produced a second Brady expects to recollect many years from now. After the clinching aim, they celebrated individually earlier than recognizing each other throughout the ice.
“We made eye contact like, ‘Holy cow, we’re each gold medalists,’” Brady says. “I’ll always remember that hug.”
Matthew treasures that Olympic triumph, however one other shared dream stays. The brothers have imagined successful the Stanley Cup collectively since childhood, proper down to at least one handing the trophy to the opposite.
“That will be the best factor that’s ever occurred to us,” Matthew says. “Olympic gold to this point in our careers, for a reminiscence collectively, is fairly laborious to beat, however hopefully the Stanley Cup can high that.”
For Matthew, South Florida turned dwelling throughout his first Panthers season. He arrived in August 2022, helped propel the workforce to the Stanley Cup Closing, and stayed on the town celebrating till early July. By then, he had reached a agency conclusion along with his now-wife, Ellie.
“I bear in mind her and being like, ‘I by no means need to go away this place. That is the place I need to be endlessly,’” he says. “That is nearly as good because it will get.”
His native rotation is sort of a Fort Lauderdale eating information. Coconuts is necessary each time his dad and mom go to. Greek Islands, Runway 84, Elbo Room, Café Europa, Daniel’s, and D’s Sports activities Bar all earn mentions. At Ann’s Florist & Espresso Bar, he’s a daily.
But Matthew’s South Florida footprint stretches properly past eating places and hockey {hardware}. He visits native hospitals, helps fan initiatives, and not too long ago teamed with Baptist Well being for a Labor Day weekend hockey match on the Baptist Well being IcePlex. For him, being an energetic member of the group represents a bigger win.
“Once I first obtained traded right here, clearly the primary aim was to win a Stanley Cup, however the quantity two aim, simply behind that, was to see the sport of hockey develop and be in a greater place than once I obtained right here,” Matthew says. “It’s actually been cool to see it proceed to get higher yearly.”
Brady enters South Florida able to contribute whereas studying the rhythms of a championship group and observing his brother’s management up shut. He additionally plans to establish native causes after beforehand working with the Boys and Ladies Membership of Ottawa and a youngsters’s hospital.
“It’s our job and we like to play hockey, nevertheless it’s the chance to be a task mannequin for the subsequent technology of youngsters who look as much as you,” Brady says. “That’s one thing that’s actually necessary to me and excessive on the listing to do.”
Matthew hopes residents in the end consider him as somebody who cares whether or not they see him play on the enviornment, meet him at a fan fest, or spot him grabbing a espresso. His goal is to assist make the Panthers a workforce South Florida loves and the area “the very best sports activities city within the nation.”
Brady’s arrival provides one other Tkachuk to that pursuit and provides the brothers the chance to perform their grandest shared dream.
