Team USA hockey stars Matthew and Brady Tkachuk are modern-day Bash Brothers who’ve helped turn the perception of American hockey on its head.
Matthew, a forward with the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, and younger sibling Brady, the captain of the Ottawa Senators, had never played together on the identical team — outside of the 2023 NHL All-Star Game — before representing their home country within the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025. They teamed up together again in February 2026 as members of the Team USA Olympic team.
“We talked about this moment, playing together, perpetually,” Matthew told NHL.com before the 4 Nations Face-Off, a best-on-best event between the USA, Canada, Sweden and Finland. “And now that it’s finally happening, it’s just been amazing and we’re super grateful for it. We’re just having a lot fun.”
Matthew and Brady come from a hockey family, within the truest sense of the phrase. The duo were each born in Scottsdale, Arizona, while their father, Keith, played for the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes.
Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk knows hockey culture is steeped in tradition, but he’s not particularly concerned about ruffling some feathers. Tkachuk, 27, who won a Stanley Cup with the Panthers last season, has enjoyed pushing boundaries each on the ice along with his hard-nosed kind of play and off the ice with […]
The brothers cut their hockey teeth in St. Louis after their dad was traded to the Blues in 2001, with Matthew and Brady taking unique journeys to the NHL.
Keep scrolling for a deep dive into the lore of the Tkachuk family — including their mother, Chantal Tkachuk, and their field hockey star sister, Taryn:
Matthew Tkachuk
Matthew was only 3 years old when his father, Keith, was traded to the St. Louis Blues. As such, he spent lots of his most formative childhood years in hockey arenas.
“If you say you grew up in a rink people think, ‘Oh, yeah, your dad played but you didn’t really grow up there,’” Matthew told The Athletic in 2019. “No, I literally grew up within the rink. Even in St. Louis, I feel my dad pulled me out of college certain days so I could go to the rink.”
Courtesy of Odette Peters/Instagram Team USA hockey star Zach Werenski has experienced life’s most euphoric highs and devastating lows all throughout the span of six months. Werenski, 27, will likely be on the ice when USA faces Canada within the championship game of the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off at Boston’s TD Garden on Thursday, February 20, […]
He added, “Looking back, I’m so grateful I got to try this. There’s a reason I even have desired to play within the NHL since a young age. I used to be there a lot and I loved the approach to life, the eagerness, every thing these guys showed me and the relationships I built.”
Matthew accomplished sixth through ninth grades at Chaminade Preparatory School — where he was classmates with Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum — before joining the USA Hockey National Development Program.
After one season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, Matthew was drafted sixth overall within the 2016 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames.
Matthew played six seasons with the Flames before being traded to the Florida Panthers in July 2022, where he would win a Stanley Cup in 2024 when Florida defeated the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the Finals.
His parents — Keith and Chantal — were each readily available for the moment, with Keith shown on TV crying at his son’s accomplishment. Despite a legendary 18-year profession within the NHL, Keith never won a Stanley Cup.
Matthew got engaged to his fiancée, Ellie Connell, in April 2024. The couple prefers to maintain their relationship mostly private.
Nonetheless, Ellie was readily available to see Matthew hoist the Stanley Cup, posing for photos on the ice because the Panthers star lifted the long-lasting trophy over his head.
Brady Tkachuk
Much like his older brother, Brady spent most of his childhood across the game of hockey.
Brady also followed within the footsteps of Matthew and played two seasons with the USA Hockey National Development Program, but their paths diverted when Brady decided to explore collegiate hockey.
In 2017-2018, Brady spent one season with Boston University, appearing in 40 games and scoring 31 points. He was drafted 4th overall by the Ottawa Senators within the 2018 NHL Draft. Brady was named the tenth captain in franchise history in November 2021.
Brady also captained Team USA within the 2024 IIHF World Championship, where they were eliminated within the quarterfinals.
Off the ice, Brady married his wife, Emma Farinacci, in July 2023. In September 2024, the couple welcomed their son, Ryder.
“Our whole world ❤️,” Farinacci wrote via Instagram announcing their son’s birth.
Matthew left two enthusiastic comments on the post, writing, “Ryder!! Little legend!!!” and “Love him!!!!”
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly in October 2025, Brady talked about life with Emma and Ryder.
“Probably the most difficult part for me, and for numerous guys, is being away from their family,” Brady said. “Their wives, their kids, just missing out on those fun moments. Ryder is on the verge of walking. In fact, I would like to see him walk. But at the tip of the day, it’s just a part of our business.”
He added, “That’s what’s nice about getting out on the road with the blokes, since you’re not the just one going through that. It’s nice to collectively be together. And after we’re at home, it’s all about family. I feel that’s what helps with my performance. I’ve already felt that, within the grand scheme of things. An important thing in life is having a completely happy, healthy family. I can’t dread an excessive amount of on bad games, good games, because there’s at all times a following game after.”
Keith Tkachuk
One in every of the best American hockey players of all-time, Matthew and Brady’s father, Keith, grew up in Medford, Massachusetts and accomplished one season of collegiate hockey at Boston University, where Brady would later play.
Keith was drafted nineteenth overall in 1990 by the Winnipeg Jets and had an 18-year profession within the NHL with the Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Thrashers.
When his sons were little, Keith recalled counting on Coyotes equipment manager, Stan Wilson, for help when Matthew and Brady got dropped off at the sector.
The Florida Panthers’ youngest fans were capable of mark the team’s historic win in a really special way. After the Panthers won their first-ever Stanley Cup trophy in franchise history after defeating the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 of the NHL finals on Monday, June 24, the players celebrated at Amerant Bank Arena with […]
“They terrorized the place once they were capable of,” Keith told The Athletic in 2019. “They usually made more of a multitude for Stan and the opposite guys, but you recognize Stan. You actually need to work hard to piss him off.”
After Matthew won the Stanley Cup with the Panthers in 2024, Keith had no problem admitting he was overcome with emotions in the group.
“I used to be up within the stands crying,” Keith told NHL.com. “Who wouldn’t? That’s my son down there. He just won the Stanley Cup.”
Keith added, “I’m so happy with that child.”
Chantal Tkachuk
Keith married his wife — and Matthew and Brady’s mom — Chantal in February 1997 when he was playing for the St. Louis Blues. During that point, he credited Chantal for much of his success.
“I wouldn’t be the player that I’m if it hadn’t been for her, I’ll inform you that much,” Keith told The Hockey News shortly after their wedding. “You focus more on hockey when you’ve someone at home, while you’re caring for yourself and he or she’s caring for you.”
After Matthew and Brady were born, Chantal recalled using her husband’s ice rink workplace as a method of kid care.
“Right from the get-go, I’d drop them off of their pumpkin seats once they were little babies,” she told The Athletic in 2019. “I remember sending Matthew together with Brady in a pumpkin seat. I remember Matthew moving into as a baby, too. I’d go to the side door of the rink, knock on the door, someone would open the door, I dumped off the diaper bag, dropped off the package and I’d run — fast.”
While Keith was within the highlight, it was Chantal running the show back home that her kids have grown to understand much more on reflection.
“It’s easy to credit him because he had an excellent profession, but I feel behind the scenes, it’s my mom,” Brady told The Athletic in 2018. “She was there when my dad was on the road trips. She was at all times there and so dedicated.”
Taryn Tkachuk
Matthew and Brady’s younger sister, Taryn, is an completed athlete in her own right.
Taryn recently accomplished her senior season as a field hockey star on the University of Virginia. Her parents, Keith and Chantal, were each readily available to rejoice senior weekend in October 2024, which Taryn showed off via Instagram.
She was, in fact, readily available to assist rejoice her brother Matthew winning the Stanley Cup in June 2024, watching Game 7 from the group together with her parents.
In July 2024, Taryn posted a carousel of photos via Instagram from Matthew’s time with the Cup, which included a poolside gathering and a visit to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in St. Louis. ‘
Chantal wrote, “Cheers! Now time to sleep💤💤.”