Last year, the Stanley Cup finals were a whirlwind of emotions. In a thrilling Game 7 showdown, the Florida Panthers emerged victorious over the Edmonton Oilers, clinching the match with a final score of 2-1 in regulation time. In a poignant moment, Keith Tkachuk was spotted in the stands, visibly emotional as he witnessed his son, Matthew Tkachuk, achieve the remarkable feat of becoming a Stanley Cup champion. The statements made by the Panthers forward?

“It’s not a dream, it’s reality… I can’t believe how these two years have been. I’m so thankful for this group of guys,” Matthew expressed, following the victory. The contest against the Oilers was fiercely contested, as they were the anticipated winners in this matchup. However, the Panthers emerged victorious against them. It has been a while since Tkachuk raised that trophy.

Nevertheless, he continues to hold onto those memories. In episode 125 of the New Heights podcast on YouTube, the Panthers forward shared a humorous anecdote that took place after they lifted the Stanley Cup.

In a conversation with Travis and Jason Kelce, Tkachuk recalled the incident that almost led to his issues with Phil Pritchard, the Keeper of the Cup. “I guess, but I guess after, you know, after we won, zero hours of sleep, about 40 beers later, I took it into the ocean, and yeah, I guess it doesn’t deal well with salt water, which makes sense, but I didn’t know the rules,” said Matthew. “I mean, just, just won. We just won the thing 12 hours earlier. Like, not think about rules? Uh, yeah, but they weren’t too thrilled with me, but, uh, yeah, it’s all good. We’re good now.”

The actions of the hockey forward in this instance breached a significant regulation concerning the proper treatment of the Stanley Cup. What exactly is that? It is strictly prohibited to immerse the coveted trophy in bodies of water to avoid any potential damage.

Considering it a remarkable milestone, Tkachuk experienced the triumph of the Stanley Cup for the first time in his NHL career, igniting a wave of celebrations. Yet, following a few well-earned drinks, he found himself struggling to recall the details of the moments spent with the trophy.

What was the keeper’s response at that time? “Matthew Tkachuk obviously, as we know, went in the Atlantic Ocean, so we kind of looked the other way on that one,” stated Pritchard. These events underscored the unique significance of the Stanley Cup. The proximity of that victory to Tkachuk is noteworthy.

A surprising turn of events for Matthew Tkachuk

Recall the response of Matthew Tkachuk following his Stanley Cup victory? He was astonished by what he and the Florida Panthers had accomplished in such a brief period together. In a significant trade, Tkachuk was moved to the Panthers from the Calgary Flames in July 2022. It’s important to note that in the same season, Tkachuk achieved an impressive 104 points over 82 games, which included 42 goals and 62 assists.

As a forward, he had fulfilled his role, yet he could never have anticipated the events that would unfold in the next season. His mindset was clear as he articulated his perspective, saying, “When I made the list [of teams], first and foremost it was winning.” In his inaugural season with the Panthers, he amassed an impressive total of 109 points across 79 regular-season games, featuring 40 goals and 69 assists. During that same season, the Panthers reached the finals but ultimately fell to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Moving into the next campaign, he and the team emerged even more formidable, ultimately facing off against the formidable Edmonton Oilers in the finals. What followed became a significant chapter in the narrative. After immense dedication and relentless effort, Tkachuk ultimately secured his grasp on the coveted Stanley Cup. It was undeniably a surreal moment for the hockey forward.