Matthew Tkachuk and wife Ellie expecting their first baby
Matthew Tkachuk has announced that he and his wife, Ellie, are expecting their first child together
Florida Panthers forward and Olympic hockey player Matthew Tkachuk is preparing for a new role off the ice, fatherhood.
The 28-year-old NHL star has revealed that he and his wife, Ellie, are expecting their first baby together.
Tkachuk shared the exciting news during an appearance on the podcast Hang Out with Sean Hannity, where he spoke candidly about the couple’s plans for their growing family.
The athlete said he and his wife have decided not to learn the baby’s sex before birth, choosing what he described as an “old-school approach,” even though he initially wasn’t fully convinced by the idea.
Despite keeping the surprise for later, the hockey star admitted he is already imagining the future, joking that he can’t wait to introduce his child to the sport that shaped his own life.
According to People, Tkachuk said he looks forward to youth hockey road trips and family moments surrounding the game, even suggesting he would put his child on the ice as soon as they can stand.
The announcement comes less than a year after Tkachuk and his wife tied the knot. The couple married in July 2025 in St. Louis, shortly after the Panthers secured back-to-back Stanley Cup victories.
Moreover, Tkachuk and Ellie first made their relationship public in 2022 and got engaged in 2024 when the NHL star proposed during a romantic boat outing.