BU's Brady Tkachuk enjoying path that has him destined to follow in his family's footsteps

DALLAS – Brady Tkachuk should have been a senior in high school last fall. Instead, he accelerated his path to Boston University, a burning desire to deliver on the verbal commitment he made way back when he was a freshman.

Tkachuk, who's 6-foot-3, 197 pounds, wanted to get stronger. He wanted to play for what he considered the best college hockey program in the country, and more importantly, wanted to do it against players three or four years older than him.

That path has brought him to Dallas, where Tkachuk is expected to be drafted anywhere between No. 3 and No. 10 overall, following the footsteps of his dad Keith and brother Matt into the NHL.

“Obviously I was 18 years old playing this year against 25-year-olds,” Tkachuk said Thursday. “That’s a big adjustment to make. To be able to get adjusted now will make it an easier transition to the NHL. The NCAA is such a hard league and I feel like I adjusted well throughout the year.”

It’s unlikely any prospect will have a larger support system on hand than Tkachuk, who expects to have 90 to 95 family members in attendance. His dad Keith, now an amateur scout for the St. Louis Blues after a prolific 18-year NHL career, will be busy with draft day duties. Matt, who was drafted sixth overall in 2016, by the Calgary Flames, will be by his brother’s side.



“It’s fun to be on the entourage side of it and enjoy the party part of it,” Matt said. “It should make for a great weekend. We just gotta get through Friday. It’s a great event where you get to see people, guys from the Flames, or guys from throughout the league. Great to have the whole hockey world in Dallas.”

Brady, who scored eight goals and 23 assists for the Terriers in 40 games, is a strong skater with a heavy shot. He has a fierce competitive edge, a part of his game he attributes to his father.

“I’ve got my dad’s switch,” Brady said.

He’s active in front of the net, a skill he picked up from tussling with Matt over the years. Matt took a different approach than Brady, opting for the juniors route. He played for the London Knights in the OHL before he was drafted, a dominant 107-point season in 57 games.

It was always a dream that the Tkachuk kids would follow in their dad’s footsteps. In 18 years, Keith Tkachuk played 1,201 games for Winnipeg, Phoenix, and St. Louis, plus a brief stint with the Thrashers. He scored 538 goals and had 527 assists – long, decorated careers his sons hope to emulate. In two seasons with the Flames, Matt has 37 goals and 60 assists in 144 games.

The brothers’ most cherished memory is their dad’s final game in St. Louis April 9, 2010. After the game ended, Brady and Matt had the ice at the Scottrade Center to themselves – playing an hour-long game of keep away from each other.

They had no equipment on. Just their sticks, skates, and a puck, plus the memorable feeling of skating on an NHL sheet of ice.

“I was around the rink every weekend,” Brady said. “But my dad’s last game, that was such a special moment, for Matthew and I to be alone on an NHL rink. Matthew and I had such a blast that day. Matthew is already there (in the NHL) and I hope I’ll be there soon.”

“It was one of the most vivid memories just because we didn't think we’d play in the NHL or anything,” Matt recalled. “We were skating on NHL ice. For us to enjoy that hour, hour-and-a-half we had on the ice by ourselves, it was one of the best days and one of the best memories we had.”

There are plenty more memories for Brady. He remembers stick-handling on the ice with T.J. Oshie and Alex Pietrangelo, who’s now the captain of the Blues. It won’t be long before Brady shares the same ice with players he looked up to.

Since the draft process began, Brady’s had meetings with Montreal, Chicago, Arizona and Detroit.

Wherever he is drafted will likely dictate whether he decides to return to Boston University for his sophomore season. Terriers coach Dave Quinn was hired by the Rangers, another move that could influence Tkachuk’s decision.

Regardless of where he ends up, it’ll be a memorable experience. Matt said he is certain it will be the proudest moment of his life to watch his brother get drafted, one more surreal than his own draft-day experience.

“I’m finally being able to genuinely thank them and all they sacrificed,” Brady said of his friends and family. “I know they say they’re so proud of me, but the reason I’m here is because of them.”