As the captain of the Ottawa Senators and brother of fellow NHL star Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk is nothing short of a celebrity in the hockey world. However, despite being married to such a popular athlete, the 25-year-old’s longtime girlfriend-turned-wife, Emma Farinacci, is the exact opposite. Unlike her husband, the former Boston University student keeps a low profile.

Emma Farinacci, who goes by the username ‘ehtkachuk’ on Instagram, has a private account. Besides appearing on her husband’s social media handle quite a few times over the years, Farinacci barely has a social media presence. However, throughout the years, the couple has spilled the beans about the very origins of their love life, including the surprisingly deep connection they shared even before meeting one another.

Brady Tkachuk and Emma Farinacci were pleasantly surprised

Tkachuk ran into Emma Farinacci during his first and only season at Boston University (2017-18). However, that short period was all it took for the couple to fall for one another. The NHL player and his wife recalled their first date with amusement while speaking with The Athletic. “Our first date was in the dining hall. It was really romantic,” the hockey player joked.

Although their second date at the local pizzeria was far more conventional, the pair were surprised they hadn’t met one another before Boston University. That’s because the couple discovered the plethora of common connections they had, especially through hockey. Farinacci had been playing prep school hockey, and her cousin Ryan Donato was already living Brady Tkachuk’s NHL dream.

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old father, Keith Tkachuk, had played in the NHL, while his brother, Matthew Tkachuk, had already signed with the Calgary Flames. “It’s kind of crazy how we never ran into each other before… We just knew a lot of the same people,” said the Ottawa Senators captain.

And while life changed when Brady Tkachuk signed a contract with the Senators in August 2018, their story continued. Emma Farinacci followed the 25-year-old to Canada, and the couple dated for four more years before deciding to tie the knot in 2023.

An NHL star-studded wedding

After years of being in a relationship and getting engaged in July 2022, Brady and Emma Farinacci became Mr. and Mrs. Tkachuk on July 21, 2023. The happy couple got married in the presence of their close friends and family at the picturesque The Mansion at Natirar in New Jersey. Tkachuk simply wrote “07/21” in the caption of his wedding post.

While the NHL player simply shared a few snapshots, their wedding videographer, Tone Media, uploaded a snippet of the ceremony on their channel. The clip captured just how emotional Tkachuk got, as he can be seen wiping away tears as Emma Farinacci walked down the aisle. And while the couple and their family had hoped to keep things mostly private, they were surprised to see fans scrambling to decode every detail of their wedding.

“I wouldn’t say it’s weird, but I remember seeing pics of our guest list and where people were seated on Twitter… It was more funny than uncomfortable,” Brady Tkachuk told the Athletic. And why wouldn’t they? The Tkachuk wedding had quite the guest list, including his brother Matthew and Quinn Hughes as the groomsmen. Other guests included Tom Fitzgerald, Cam Talbot, Jack Hughes, Alex DeBrincat, and many more. And barely a year after their wedding, the Tkachuks had some good news for the fans.

Welcoming baby Brady Tkachuk

On March 20, 2024, Tkachuk surprised fans with an Instagram. The Senators forward uploaded an image of a white cake with the words “Baby Tkachuk” written on it. Tkachuk elaborated further in the caption. “Baby boy coming 09/24,” wrote the hockey icon, annoyed that the couple was expecting their first child.

Brady Tkachuk later spoke about being excited to become a father in an interview with the Ottawa Sun. “It’s been hard to keep a secret for the last little bit… Now that it’s out there, I’m fired up. It’s a pretty neat feeling that I really can’t describe right now,” said the Team USA forward. He added that Mrs. Tkachuk was “doing well,” and both families were equally excited to welcome their son.

Matthew Tkachuk was especially excited. “Oh, he’s fired up. He’s already expecting to be the godfather. He said that right away,” Tkachuk told the Ottawa Sun. However, that day came a little later than expected, in September 2024. In one of her rare public posts, shared alongside her husband, Emma Farinacci announced the birth of their first child.

“Ryder Keith Tkachuk, our whole world. September 16, 2024,” wrote the hockey player’s better half. It took Brady and Matthew Tkachuk barely a month to bring baby Ryder Keith Tkachuk to the skating rink. On October 12, 2024, Brady Tkachuk uploaded a photo alongside his elder brother while holding baby Ryder in his arms after the Senators trumped the Panthers 3-1.

“Special night,” wrote the hockey star. Since then, Tkachuk’s wife and son have continued to make appearances on his Instagram profile. However, Mrs. Tkachuk continues to keep her own online presence low-key.