Photos and Video: Matthew Tkachuk brings the Stanley Cup home to ºüÀêÊÓƵ
2024 Stanley Cup winner and ºüÀêÊÓƵ area native Matthew Tkachuk, who plays for the NHL Florida Panthers, brings the coveted NHL championship trophy to ºüÀêÊÓƵ Children's Hospital on Thursday, July 18, 2024.Â
Children’s Hospital patient Evan Sisk, 13, from Dexter, Mo., raises the Stanley Cup over his head with the help of NHL player Matthew Tkachuk on Thursday, July 18, 2024. “It’s all about their smile,†said Tkachuk, who was raised in Creve Coeur and returned home to show the spoils of the Florida Panthers’ first-ever championship title to kids at the ºüÀêÊÓƵ hospital.
EJ Vivier, 12, from south ºüÀêÊÓƵ County, inspects the Stanley Cup alongside NHL player Matthew Tkachuk on Thursday, July 24, 2024, at ºüÀêÊÓƵ Children's Hospital in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. "I've dreamt of this day my entire life," Tkachuk said, after returning to his hometown area with the NHL championship trophy.
The names of ºüÀêÊÓƵ Blues players are etched into the Stanley Cup, seen on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at ºüÀêÊÓƵ Children's Hospital in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. "This trophy here is a very magical thing," Tkachuk said, during his appearance in the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area where he was raised.
Abigail Young, 12, of O'Fallon, Ill., gazes at the Stanley Cup while NHL player Matthew Tkachuk speaks with her on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at ºüÀêÊÓƵ Children's Hospital. "They go through stuff that I could never even imagine," Tkachuk said of the patients he was visiting. "Their spirits, their reaction, their smile is what it's all about."
Joe Williams, 9, of Iowa, fist bumps Matthew Tkachuk on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at ºüÀêÊÓƵ Children's Hospital. "The most important thing is to see how happy they are," Tkachuk said of the patients he was meeting with.
Florida Panthers NHL player Matthew Tkachuk places a patient's doll into the Stanley Cup on Thursday, July 18, 2024, while visiting patients at ºüÀêÊÓƵ Children's Hospital. "Being able to bring the cup back to ºüÀêÊÓƵ ... celebrating it with everybody that's got me to where I am right now ... it's been an incredible time," said Tkachuk, who was raised in Creve Coeur.
Matthew Rehkop, 16, of Fredericktown, Mo., hoists the Stanley Cup over his head with help from Florida Panthers player Matthew Tkachuk on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at ºüÀêÊÓƵ Children's Hospital. "The first time I lifted it, it was just me and my teammates on the ice," Tkachuk said as he visited patients. "This day so far has been so amazing."
Zachary Linhares
Photographer
Tkachuk, who is the son of Blues legend Keith Tkachuk and grew up in ºüÀêÊÓƵ, won the Cup last month as a member of the Florida Panthers.
