Heads up, folks, another Tkachuk ready to hit pro
Boston University forward Brady being described as nastier version of Matthew
For the record, Brady Tkachuk has not speared anyone from the bench this year. Nor has he instigated an on-ice brawl by jabbing the blade of his stick in the stomach of an opponent. In fact, he hasn’t used his stick to pick up a single suspension or even a match penalty.
That’s where the differences between Tkachuk and his older brother end.
Like Matthew Tkachuk, who is a shift-disturbing pain-in-theyou-know-what for the Calgary Flames, the younger Tkachuk spends his time deep in the margins of what is often deemed acceptable. He crashes and bangs and drives to the net like a runaway car that’s lost its brakes. And he does it all, said his coach, with a “giant smirk on his face.”
The fact that he can also hurt you on the scoreboard is what really makes him dangerous.
“He’s a lot bigger than me, a lot faster than me,” Matthew said of his brother. “He’s kind of that dual threat where he can beat you with speed, power and with quick, tight plays as well.”
Described as a nastier version than his older brother — a thought that is scary considering Matthew’s rap sheet already — the six-foot-two and 194-pound Brady is also a bit more skilled with the puck. It is why the 18-year-old, whom one scout called “the best Tkachuk — period” is expected to be a Top 5 pick in next year’s NHL entry draft (Matthew was selected sixth overall in 2016). And it is also why opponents at this year’s world junior hockey championship in Buffalo, N.Y., should have their heads on a swivel whenever the American power forward is on the ice.
“There’s something in the DNA there that they’re putting together with these boys because they’re playing the game hard and heavy with a lot
of talent,” said Team USA head coach Bob Motzko. “No question, as this guy goes through his career, the sky’s the limit because, No. 1, he’s got the size and he’s got an unbelievable skill set and hands, but his motor is what catches everybody.
“When this kid starts his motor, he goes from zero to 100 real quick and he wants to do everything at a high pace and heavy and hard. And he’s just (18) and his best hockey is ahead of him.”
Brady, two years younger than his older brother, and Matthew come about their pugnacity quite naturally. Their father Keith was a 19th-overall pick who scored 538 goals and had 1,065 points in 1,201 regular season NHL games, while also racking up 2,219 penalty minutes. Growing up, the boys were taught to play hard — whether at the rink or in the basement.
Not surprisingly, there were times when the brothers bodychecked each other through the wall. But that’s why their parents always had drywall compound nearby — as well as a couple of pairs of boxing gloves for the ensuing sparring bout.
“I think anything we did was always a competition and it was always getting a little physical,” said Brady. “When we were kids, he was bigger and a lot stronger, so he won a lot. But we were just both really competitive, whether it was football in the backyard or basketball in the driveway. I was always trying to win. I think that’s how we both got our competitive nature. I think it was definitely awesome to have him and learn from him. My younger sister, when she got older, would join in, too. It was fun.”
There is, however, a limit to how many holes you can put in a wall.
Matthew, who has been suspended twice this season, is discovering that already. And so did Brady, who after racking up 73 penalty minutes in just 24 United States Hockey League games with the U.S. National Under-18 Team last year — 24 more than the next-highest player in his age group — has toned down the extracurricular parts to his game as a college freshman with Boston University.
“You never want to put your team into trouble by taking a bad penalty, so I definitely think I’ve matured in that area with being smart after the whistle and not doing anything stupid,” said Tkachuk, who has four goals and 14 points in 19 games. “How we kind of play, it gets you involved in a way and some guys might not like that and it gets under their skin.”
“He’s only got nine penalties this year and I bet only five of them are coincidental,” said Boston University head coach David Quinn. “So it’s not like he takes a lot of penalties. I think he’s done a good job of that this year with us. But I don’t want him to stop being the agitator. I don’t want to take away his strengths and part of his strengths is playing on the edge. And as long as you’re not taking dumb penalties, I want him to push other people’s buttons and agitate people.”
Indeed, Matthew was at his most dangerous during his one year with the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, when he amassed 107 points and had 80 penalty minutes in 57 games. For Brady, who has even more offensive potential, it’s about finding a similar balance.
“He has a little more finesse to his game,” said Dan Marr, director of scouting with NHL Central Scouting. “Matthew and their dad could go right through the door at you, but Brady may be a little more deceptive with his skill set. But he still has the same drive and tenacity that drives him to the net — except he can also get there with an end-to-end rush.
“He just stands out a little differently.”
He’s kind of that dual threat where he can beat you with speed, power and with quick, tight plays as well.