Nick Tarnasky, a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre currently going viral with his brawl video, comes from an athletic family.
The former NHL player Nicholas ‘Nick’ Tarnasky was born on November 25, 1984, in the small town of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada, as the eldest of three children of Canadian parents.
UPDATE: The Monster Who Beat The Absolute Brakes Off That Fella On The Golf Course Was None Other Than Former NHL Enforcer Nick Tarnasky https://t.co/ewZSKKGGgA pic.twitter.com/W7uVVQa26v
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) July 8, 2025
Nick Tarnasky hasn’t shared much about his parents, including their names, professions, and family background, as he prefers to keep them away from the limelight.
However, he often credits them for instilling in him the passion and love for sports, especially for hockey, from a very young age.
Furthermore, Nick’s parents raised him and his two younger siblings, including a brother named Neil and a sister named Sam, to be amazing hockey players.
Nick Tarnasky’s Siblings, Neil and Sam, Are Both Former Ice Hockey Stars
With the guidance and support of their parents, Nick Tarnasky and his two siblings began their athletic careers from a very young age while attending high school.
Following in Nick Tarnasky’s footsteps, his younger brother, Neil, born on October 8, 1992, is a former Canadian ice hockey player who played as a center in several leagues, including AMHL, AJHL, NCHL, and WHL.
Standing 6 feet tall, Neil was selected in the 8th round ( #163 overall) of the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft by the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Furthermore, Neil’s junior hockey career began with the Leduc Oil Kings U18 AAA in the AMHL, where he tallied 10 points in 33 games.
He then saw short stints with the Olds Grizzlys in the AJHL and eventually played two seasons in the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, appearing in 112 games.
Likewise, Neil’s most productive season came in 2011-12 with the Dauphin Kings in the MJHL, where he notched 15 goals and 48 assists for 63 points in 57 games, earning the title of MJHL Assist Leader.
He later played for several other teams, including the Drayton Valley Thunder of the AJHL, Morinville Kings, Rocky Rams, and Stony Plain Eagles in Alberta’s senior leagues, such as the NCHL and ACHW.
However, Neil retired from his professional hockey career like his brother, Nick, and now lives a private life.
The youngest among the Tarnasky siblings, Sam Tarnasky is also a retired Canadian women’s ice hockey forward who played collegiate hockey at Williams College in Massachusetts.
Standing 5 feet 7 inches tall, Sam developed her skills at Warner Hockey School.
Furthermore, Sam played four seasons at the NCAA Division III level with Williams College, appearing in a total of 74 games from 2005 to 2009.
Her most productive season was 2007-08, when she scored 20 goals and added 11 assists for 31 points in 24 games. Over her NCAA career, she tallied 15 goals, 21 assists, and 36 points.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Nick Tarnasky was drafted in the ninth round, 287th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
- He made his NHL debut in the 2005-06 season for the Lightning.
- Nick most recently played for the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League.
- He currently serves as the head coach of the Red Deer Minor Hockey U17 AAA North Stars team.
