Tkachuk Selected Fourth in the 2018 NHL Draft

His father, Keith, is considered one of the greatest American-born players in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL), born and bred in Charlestown.

His brother, Matthew, has been an instant-impact player since entering the league in 2016 with the Calgary Flames.

Now joining the lineage is Brady Tkachuk, who played with Boston University last winter and had a notable freshman year there.

The Tkachuk’s are one of the most recognizable families in NHL history, and Brady’s professional future seemed destined since an early age. On Friday, June 22,  the Ottawa Senators selected the 18-year-old left wing with the fourth pick of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

“It’s obviously an unbelievable feeling,” Tkachuk said, “and I’m so happy to share this with my family and friends.”

At 6-foot-3, 191 pounds, Tkachuk has one of the most translatable qualities as a professional athlete: size. Although he currently lacks pro-level strength, his frame provides a physical potential that perfectly suits his toughness. Known for his fierce competitiveness, Tkachuk will be able to bully his opponents both physically and mentally in the future.

Although Tkachuk grew up in St. Louis, his family’s roots are tied deep within Charlestown. His grandfather, Jack, is a Charlestown native and a retired Boston Fire Department firefighter. Incidentally, Jack was recently the 2018 Chief Marshal of the Battle of Bunker Hill Parade, a parade that Brady Tkachuk marched in with his grandfather. Brady’s great grandfather, Pete Tkachuk still lives in Charlestown off of Bunker Hill Street.

Brady’s father, Keith, grew up here and played collegiate hockey at Boston University.

Brady Tkachuk also represented the Terriers this past season where he appeared in all 40 games, totaling 31 points on eight goals and 23 assists. After a breakout performance for Team USA in the World Juniors, Tkachuk helped the Terriers post a 14-3-3 record since Jan. 6.

Within the house, Tkachuk will have another reason to celebrate.

“Now he has the bragging rights for getting selected fourth over his brother and his father,” Jack Tkachuk said, noted that he attended almost all of Brady’s BU games this year. “That’s the first thing I said to him when I was congratulating him.”

Drafted with the fourth overall pick, Brady Tkachuk became the highest selection in his family, beating both Matthew, who was selected sixth in 2016, and Keith, who was selected 19th in 1990.

“It means the world to me,” Brady said. “Without their support and them pushing me all those years, I wouldn’t be here.”

Whether or not Brady can outperform his family members at the NHL level will be a different story. In fact, whether or not he enters the league next season is still a question, as he may return to Boston University next season. One thing is for sure: Brady Tkachuk is ready to write his own legacy.“I’m so excited about what the future holds,” Brady Tkachuk said. “It’s just gonna be a whirlwind, and I’m excited to take it on and take on this new level of hockey. I don’t know when it will be, but I know I’ll be ready for it when it comes.”

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