Shot Left Height 1.83 m Position Centerman Role Ice hockey player Career end 1981 | Name Walt Tkaczuk Career start 1967 Playing career Weight 84 kg Played for New York Rangers | |
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Born September 29, 1947 (age 76)
Emsdetten, Germany ( 1947-09-29 ) | ||
The Forgotten Hockey Players Of Broadway Podcast-Walt Tkaczuk- Episode #20
Walter Robert Bogdan Tkaczuk (born September 29, 1947) is a Canadian retired ice hockey centre who played fourteen seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers between 1967 and 1981. Tkaczuk's family moved to Timmins, Ontario from West Germany when he was two years old. He was the first German-born player to appear in an NHL game.
Contents
- The Forgotten Hockey Players Of Broadway Podcast Walt Tkaczuk Episode 20
- NHL career
- Post hockey career
- References
NHL career
Tkaczuk centered the "Bulldog Line" with Bill Fairbairn and Dave Balon, who was later replaced by Steve Vickers. He could score his fair share of goals, however he was much better at producing assists. Tkaczuk's finest contribution to the game was that of the defensive forward, being among the NHL's elite shadows and faceoff men. This complemented the Ranger's high-scoring GAG line of Jean Ratelle, Rod Gilbert, Vic Hadfield. During his first 2 seasons with the Rangers, the club and media pronounced his name, "Taychuk" because Rangers' Director of Player Personnel felt it was easier to say that the correct pronunciation, "Ka-Chook." Prior to the 1969-70 season, the club announced he would henceforth be called by the correct pronunciation.
In the 1972 playoffs, with Ratelle sidelined with a broken ankle and Gilbert hampered by injuries, Tkaczuk played a key role as the Rangers defeated the defending champions Montreal Canadiens, and the previous season's finalists Chicago Black Hawks, to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. While the Rangers lost to the Boston Bruins in six games, Tkaczuk earned much respect for holding the Bruins' Phil Esposito without a goal in the series. He was then invited to Team Canada's training camp for the 1972 Summit Series but turned down the invitation (he was replaced by Philadelphia Flyers' center Bobby Clarke)
In the 1979 postseason, Tkaczuk was a key contributor as the Rangers upset the first place New York Islanders to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, where they fell to Montreal in five games.
A serious eye injury ended Tkaczuk's career half way through the 1980-81 season. Tkaczuk played 945 career NHL games, scoring 227 goals and 451 assists for 678 points. Despite his physical presence, he only accumulated 556 minutes in penalties. In 2009, Tkaczuk was ranked No. 14 on the all-time list of New York Rangers in the book 100 Ranger Greats (John Wiley & Sons).
Post-hockey career
Tkaczuk is co-owner of River Valley Golf Course and Tube Slide in St. Marys, Ontario.