Matthew Tkachuk actually is aware of his manner round Fort Lauderdale by now. He is aware of the place to carry his dad and mom for seafood, a romantic place to have fun his anniversary, and the right 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 Area. Now coming 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 battle with me,” Matthew says. “Hopefully, we will get again to playoff hockey and attempt to obtain our final purpose 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 america collectively on the 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, the place profitable gold produced a second Brady expects to recollect a long time from now. After the clinching purpose, 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 profitable the Stanley Cup collectively since childhood, proper down to at least one 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 turned house throughout his first Panthers season. He arrived in August 2022, helped propel the workforce to the Stanley Cup Remaining, and stayed on the town celebrating till early July. By then, he had reached a agency conclusion along with his now-wife, Ellie.
“I keep in mind taking a look at her and being like, ‘I by no means wish to depart this place. That is the place I wish to be without end,’” 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 each time his dad and mom 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 effectively 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 lively member of the neighborhood represents a bigger win.
“Once I first obtained traded right here, clearly the primary purpose was to win a Stanley Cup, however the quantity two purpose, simply behind that, was to see the sport of hockey develop and be in a greater place than after I obtained 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, nevertheless it’s the chance to be a task mannequin for the subsequent technology 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 workforce South Florida loves and the area “the perfect 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.
