Matthew Tkachuk definitely is aware of his approach round Fort Lauderdale by now. He is aware of the place to deliver his mother and father for seafood, a romantic place to have a good time his anniversary, and the proper 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 develop into as recognizable round city as he’s at Amerant Financial institution Enviornment. Now getting into his eleventh NHL season, Tkachuk needs that affect to stay grounded in the usual that helped rework the Panthers into the champions they’re.
“I simply wish to proceed being the chief that I’m and drag guys alongside into the combat with me,” Matthew says. “Hopefully, we will get again to playoff hockey and attempt to obtain our final aim once more this 12 months.”
That mission comes with a rare addition. His youthful brother, Brady, is now carrying a Panthers sweater, too.
The brothers have represented the US 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 1 handing the trophy to the opposite.
“That might be the best factor that’s ever occurred to us,” Matthew says. “Olympic gold up to now in our careers, for a reminiscence collectively, is fairly laborious to beat, however hopefully the Stanley Cup can prime that.”
For Matthew, South Florida grew to become residence throughout his first Panthers season. He arrived in August 2022, helped propel the group to the Stanley Cup Ultimate, and stayed on the town celebrating till early July. By then, he had reached a agency conclusion together with his now-wife, Ellie.
“I keep in mind taking a look at her and being like, ‘I by no means wish to go away this place. That is the place I wish to be eternally,’” he says. “That is nearly as good because it will get.”
His native rotation is sort of a Fort Lauderdale eating information. Coconuts is obligatory at any time when his mother and father 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 an everyday.
But Matthew’s South Florida footprint stretches nicely past eating places and hockey {hardware}. He visits native hospitals, helps fan initiatives, and lately teamed with Baptist Well being for a Labor Day weekend hockey event on the Baptist Well being IcePlex. For him, being an energetic member of the neighborhood represents a bigger win.
“After I first acquired 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 acquired 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, however it’s the chance to be a task mannequin for the subsequent era of youngsters who look as much as you,” Brady says. “That’s one thing that’s actually vital to me and excessive on the listing to do.”
Matthew hopes residents finally 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 group South Florida loves and the area “one of the best sports activities city within the nation.”
Brady’s arrival provides one other Tkachuk to that pursuit and offers the brothers the chance to perform their grandest shared dream.
