Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk thrilled to become a father

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Brady Tkachuk was smiling from ear-to-ear Thursday morning.

As he prepared to face the St. Louis Blues at Canadian Centre Thursday night, the Ottawa Senators’ captain was thrilled to confirm that he’s about to become a father for the first time.

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The 24-year-old Tkachuk and his wife, Emma, posted the news on Instagram Wednesday afternoon after learning earlier this month that she’s expecting a baby boy.

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“It’s been hard to keep a secret for the last little bit,” Tkachuk said before facing St. Louis. “Now that it’s out there I’m fired up. It’s a pretty neat feeling that I really can’t describe right now.

“(Emma’s) doing well. She’s hanging in there. The excitement from both families right now is pretty awesome.”

After returning from the club’s Western road swing to California on March 10, Tkachuk raced home from the airport to hold a private gender-reveal party with Emma. The couple had a white cake with the words “Baby Tkachuk” on the front and cut into it to find out whether it would be a boy or girl.

“It was just for the both of us. We found out mid-road trip in California, but we couldn’t open it up until we both got back to Ottawa,” Tkachuk said. “It was a mad dash from the plane back to the house, but it was a pretty special moment.

“We did the cake and we saw the colour blue in the cut and it was pretty cool. I’m not going to lie to you. It was pretty special. We sent the videos to just our families so that we could see their reactions too.

“It’s pretty special. We’re so lucky and so blessed for this to happen to us. We’re just excited for September now.”

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Tkachuk and Emma were married last summer during a ceremony near her home in New Jersey. The couple met while attending Boston University and got engaged during the summer of 2022.

Tkachuk has always had a soft spot in his heart for children, and all you have to do is watch him interact with them when they’re at practice. Nobody has more fun with Claude Giroux’s toddlers, Gavin and Palmer, than Tkachuk.

Last year, Tkachuk and Emma also launched an initiative with the Ottawa Boys and Girls Club (BGC Ottawa), which has more than 4,500 members.

Not only will they continue regular visits to the clubhouse, but there will also be a new program called “Tkachuk’s Captains” to develop youth leadership. Participants will be appointed by BGC Ottawa.

As you can imagine, Tkachuk’s father, Keith, a former NHLer now working as a scout for the Blues, and mother, Chantal, were delighted at the news, as were Emma’s parents.

“Just to see my parents and Emma’s parents’ reactions, and of course our siblings, it’s something that we’ll both never forget,” Tkachuk said.

Tkachuk’s brother, Matthew, 26, a high-scoring winger with the Florida Panthers, has already declared he wants a role in the newcomer’s life.

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“Oh, he’s fired up,” Tkachuk said of Matthew. “He’s already expecting to be the godfather. He said that right away. That’s his expectation and he’ll be disappointed if not. So, I’ll guess we’ll have to figure that one out.”

Selected No. 4 overall by the Senators in 2018, Tkachuk has basically grown up in Ottawa since he left Boston University. He was named the club’s captain after signing a long-term deal in October 2021.

When asked to reflect on the changes in his life since his first National Hockey League game (against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 8, 2018), the memories came flooding back. 

“Definitely, down memory lane, I think about my first day here,”  Tkachuk said. “And now, here, six years later, it’s been a whirlwind. A lot of unbelievable memories here. I love playing here. I love being in this city. This city is home.

“To start a family and be here, it’s super special to me and my wife.”

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