Brady Tkachuk
A punishing power forward who captains the Ottawa Senators, embodying a relentless, physical style of hockey inherited from his family.
Born 1999 (age 27)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: September 16·Generation Z
Biography
Brady Tkachuk was born into hockey royalty, the son of 500-goal scorer Keith Tkachuk and brother to fellow star Matthew. Drafted fourth overall by the Ottawa Senators in 2018, he didn't just arrive in the NHL; he announced his presence with a bang. Tkachuk's game is built on a foundation of sheer will: he plants himself in front of the net, absorbs punishment to create scoring chances, and plays with a confrontational edge that makes him a nightmare for opponents. His leadership qualities were evident early, and he was named the youngest captain in Senators history at just 21 years old. He represents a new era for the franchise, a cornerstone player whose blend of skill, grit, and charisma is meant to guide the team back to contention.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Brady was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brady Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Brady's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the 10th captain in Ottawa Senators history in 2021.
- Selected 4th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
- Represented the United States at the IIHF World Championship, winning a bronze medal in 2021.
Did You Know?
He and his brother Matthew are the only sibling pair in NHL history to each record 100+ penalty minutes and 30+ goals in the same season (2021-22).
He played only one season of college hockey at Boston University before turning pro.
His mother, Chantal, is a former college tennis player.
“I want to be the guy who sets the tone every single night.”
