Do you know the name of the first American-born highest goal scorer in the NHL? Well, if you don’t, then no need to worry as we have got you covered. Keith Tkachuk is the man who became the first American-born player to lead the NHL in goals during the 1996-97 season.
Furthermore, the Massachusetts native is one of the most well-known figures in the NHL community due to his aggressive style of play and his longevity in the league.
Although Keith has retired from the NHL, his sons are still carrying the Tkachuk flag in the NHL these days.
However, we at Playersbio are not here to talk about Tkachuk’s sons. Instead, we are here to know about one of the best players produced by the United States of America.
So, join me as we guide you through the career of the 47-year-old from his early days to his retirement and all that happened in between.
But first, let’s take a look at some quick facts.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Keith Matthew Tkachuk |
| Birth Date | 28 March 1972 |
| Birth Place | Melrose, Massachusetts, U.S.A |
| Nick Name | Walt |
| Religion | Not available |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Not available |
| Education | Boston University |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Father’s Name | John Tkachuk |
| Mother’s Name | Gerry Tkachuk |
| Siblings | Kevin Tkachuk, Mary Kay Tkachuk |
| Age | 52 years old |
| Height | 6’2″ (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 107 kg (235 lbs) |
| Shoe Size | Not available |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Body Measurement | Not available |
| Build | Muscular |
| Married | Yes |
| Girlfriends | No |
| Spouse | Chantal Oster |
| Position | Left-Wing |
| Profession | Ice Hockey Player |
| Net Worth | $55 million |
| Clubs | Winnipeg Jets (1991-96), Phoenix Coyotes (1996-01), St. Louis Blues (2001-10), Atlanta Thrashers (2006-07) |
| Jersey Number | 7 (Winnipeg Jets) |
| Social Media | Matthew Tkachuk Instagram, Brady Tkachuk Instagram |
| Merch | Autographed Items, Hockey Gears |
| Last Update | April, 2024 |
Keith Tkachuk: Early Life
Keith was born on 13 December 1969 to his parents, John Tkachuk and Gerry Tkachuk, in Melrose, Massachusetts. Furthermore, Tkachuk grew up playing hockey with his siblings, Kevin Tkachuk and Mary Kay Tkachuk.
Therefore, ever since he was a child, the Massachusetts native dreamed of playing in the NHL.
Consequently, when the future Hall of Famer joined Malden Catholic High School, the first thing he did was to join the high school hockey team.
Subsequently, Tkachuk impressed many observers with his raw talent and winning mentality playing for the Malden Catholic High School.
Therefore, when the time came for a young Keith to choose a university, many colleges showed interest in the young prodigy. However, it was Boston University that won Tkachuk’s heart as the university was located near his hometown.
Subsequently, the Massachusetts native showed his capabilities to the whole nation during his one year with the university.
In fact, Tkachuk’s form was so impressive that he made his international debut for the U.S even before Keith became a professional.
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As a result, almost all the teams wanted to secure the wunderkind’s services after just one year with Boston University.
Thus, at the age of only 17, a young Keith decided to make himself eligible for the upcoming 1990 NHL SuperDraft.
Keith Tkachuk: Career
Tkachuk made his professional debut for the Winnipeg Jets after being drafted as the 19th overall pick in the 1990 NHL SuperDraft.
Subsequently, the 6-feet-2 left-wing stayed with the franchise for five years, helping them reach the playoffs three times.
During his time with the Jets, some memorable moments include the 12 game scoring streak from 9 March to 3 April 1993. Surprisingly, Tkachuk’s rookie season in the NHL made the feat even more incredible.
Consequently, the Winnipeg Jets handed then 20-year-old Keith with the captain’s armband as a sign of acknowledgments for his contributions.
Contrarily, at the start of the 1995-95 season, he became a restricted free agent.
Subsequently, Tkachuk decided to sign for Chicago Blackhawks after offering him a five-year contract worth $17 million.
But, having been a restricted free agent, the Winnipeg Jets had the opportunity to match Chicago’s offer, and that is precisely what they did.
The Jets not only re-signed the left-winger but stripped him of the captaincy. The reason being, they felt Keith had broken their trust and efforts put on him by the organization.
Nevertheless, Tkachuk picked himself up and performed outstandingly for the Jets until their relocation to Phoenix, Arizona.
Subsequently, the Jets re-named the Massachusetts native as the captain for the newly formed franchise, Phoenix Coyotes.
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And it was with the Coyotes that Keith had the best season of his career. To be more precise, the 6-feet-2 left winger scored 52 goals in the 1996-97 campaign, which led him to his first NHL All-Star appearance.
However, due to injuries and disagreements with the organization, the Winnipeg Jets decided to trade Keith to the St. Louis Blues in the summer of 2000, thus ending his nine years stay with the franchise.
In those nine years, the Massachusetts native became the second all-time top goalscorer with 323 goals and first in penalty minutes with 1508 minutes.
At the time, it seemed like Tkachuk’s best years were behind him when he got traded to the St. Louis Blues.
Contrarily, the 6-feet-2 left winger’s best season came during the 2000-01 season. To explain, Keith helped the Blues reach the Western Conference Finals, but unfortunately, they lost to the eventual champions, Colorado Avalanche.
After that, the Massachusetts native’s time with St. Louis based franchise was full of ups and downs. In fact, Tkachuk was even traded to the Atlanta Thrashers in 2007 due to injuries and weight issues.
But, his time with the Thrashers was short-lived as the Blues re-signed the 6-feet-2 left winger in the same season.
Subsequently, Keith stayed with St. Louis Blues until he retired from professional hockey in 2010, thus ending a near two-decade stay in the NHL.
Furthermore, during his 19 years of stay in the NHL, Tkachuk amassed incredible numbers worthy of being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Precisely, the Massachusetts native has played in 1290 games scoring 566 goals, provided 566 assists, and managed a further 555 points.
How old is Keith Tkachuk? Height & Body Measurements
Having been born in the year 1972 makes Tkachuk’s age 47 years at the moment. However, like most other professional athletes, Keith looks way younger than his age due to fitness and health. In fact, the 47-year-old looks like he can still play professionally with his two sons.
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Furthermore, the Massachusetts native stands at a towering 6 feet 2 inches. Consequently, due to his long body frame, Tkachuk dominated his opponents, as suggested by his scoring records.
In fact, Keith became the first American-born player to lead the NHL in goals by scoring 52 times for the Phoenix Coyotes during the 1996-97 season.
Similarly, the 6-feet-2 left-winger weighs 107 kg (235 lb) at the moment, which is a bit heavy for a man of his height.
However, considering Tkachuk’s sacrifices during his playing career, we guess that the Massachusetts-born player deserves to eat whatever he wants.
Keith Tkachuk: Career Highlights and Awards
- 1991- All Hockey East Rookie Team
- 1995, 1998 – Second All-Star Team
- 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009 – All-Star Game
- 2012 – Hall of Fame
Keith Tkachuk Cap Friendly: Net Worth & Salary
Currently, Keith has accrued an eye-watering net worth of $55 million, mainly through his career as a hockey player.
During his playing time, Tkachuk was one of the best and most famous players in the NHL. Therefore, his massive net worth of $55 million should come as no surprise.
In fact, during his time in the NHL, the 47-year-old was consistently one of the highest-paid players in the league.
To illustrate, the Massachusetts native earned over $80 million over the course of his 17 years of service in the NHL.
Similarly, Keith earned a mere $206,750 for his rookie season in the NHL in 1992. But, following impressive performances for the Winnipeg Jets, Tkachuk gradually increased his salary every year.
In the year 1995-96, the 47-year-old earned his biggest paycheck at the time, $6 million. However, Keith’s best years in terms of money happened during the years 2000 to 2006. For instance, the Massachusetts native was earning $9 million on average for those six seasons.
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In fact, Tkachuk’s earned the highest salary of his career in the 2002-03 season in which he took home $11 million.
By the time Keith retired from the NHL, he had earned an astonishing $80 million on salaries alone. If we take into the inflations over the years, then Tkachuk would have made $114 million at today’s rate, which is extraordinary.
Keith Tkachuk: Wedding, Wife & Kids
The 47-year-old former NHL player is married to his beautiful wife, Chantal Oster. Likewise, the couple got married on 28 February 1997 in a fairytale wedding in the presence of their friends and family.
Furthermore, the pair have been blessed with two sons, Matthew Tkachuk and Braeden Tkachuk, along with one sister, Taryn Tkachuk.
Well, it seems like ice hockey runs in the blood of the Tkachuks as the two sons have followed in the footsteps of their father and are now playing in the NHL.
To be precise, Matthew plays for the Calgary Flames while Brady plays for the Ottawa Senators.
As a result, Keith could not have been more proud of his children’s achievements as every father wants their child to be just like them.
Social Media Presence
Matthew Tkachuk Instagram: 122K+ followers
Brady Tkachuk Instagram: 75.2K+ followers
Some FAQs
Did Keith Tkachuk win a Stanley Cup?
Keith never won a Stanley Cup. However, he has helped the Boston University to a Hockey East Championships, putting up 17 goals and 40 points in 36 games.
Is Walt Tkaczuk related to Keith Tkachuk?
Keith Tkachuk has earned the nickname “Walt”. The nickname is taken reference from Walter Tkaczuk who is an ice hockey player who played for the New York Rangers from 1967 to 1981. However, the two men are totally different from each other.
What is the Jersey Number of Keith Tkachuk?
Keith Tkachuk wears the Jersey Number of 7.
