Welcome to the name game.
Sports have often produced some incredible names in many weird combinations that the alphabet has to offer. From an NBA player like Giannis Antetokounmpo to the NFL with Ben Roethlisberger and Halapoulivaati Vaitai, there are many who would struggle without the league's pronunciation guide.
The NHL is no different — with players coming from all over the world and from many walks of life. How many people on the street could correctly say the names Jonathan Toews, Shayne Gostisbehere or Jesse Puljujärvi?
What about Matthew Tkachuk?
For the latter, the best part of the name game is winning. Win, and everyone will know your name.
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Tkachuk's run in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs is evidence of that. He was a star in Calgary, but the playoffs are where you make your name stand out — especially in the United States, even in a small market like the Panthers in Sunrise, FL.
For those of you that are just getting your first glimpse at Tkachuk's game in the Stanley Cup Final or want to impress your friends while showing off some NHL knowledge, this one is for you.
While Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby watch the final from home like the rest of us, we'll all be hearing plenty of Tkachuk. The Sporting News walks you through the pronunciation of the Florida Panthers' star's name.
How do you pronounce Matthew Tkachuk's name?
As far as names go, Tkachuk's is quite an easy one to say, once you get past that funky arrangement of consonants at the beginning.
"kuh Chuck."
Think of it as the not-so-distant cousin of Lightning McQueen's, "Kachow," catchphrase in the Disney film, "Cars."
Hockey fans might also recognize his name from a former NHL player that spent 18 seasons in the league while also being a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame — Keith Tkachuk, Matthew's father. Matthew is one of two active Tkachuk's in the NHL with his brother, Brady, being the other as a member of the Ottawa Senators.
The Tkachuk surname is Ukrainian, although his father has stated in the past that his family background and name could be Polish, Russian, or Ukrainian.
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Back in 2016 before Tkachuk was drafted, he played in the BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game for scouts and executives. Tkachuk joked that he hoped former Canadian broadcaster and coach, Don Cherry, would be able to pronounce his name by the end of the game. Cherry famously couldn't pronounce it properly when Tkachuk's father played.
"Hopefully I have a good enough game that (Cherry) can pronounce my name by the end of it," he joked.
Seven years later, he no longer has to worry. His rise to superstardom in the 2023 playoffs made sure that everyone knows, or will know, the Tkachuk name for many years to come.
