Kai Uchacz

Kai Uchacz (born June 24, 2003) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a centre for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career Uchacz played youth hockey in Okotoks, Alberta with the Okotoks Oilers U15AAA and U18AAA teams. He would be drafted tenth overall in the 2018 WHL Draft by the Seattle Thunderbirds, and played for Team Alberta at the 2019 Canada Winter Games. After a racist incident where Uchacz and a teammate bullied a black teammate, Uchacz was removed from the Thunderbirds' roster for the 2020–21 season. Uchacz's rights would later be traded to the Red Deer Rebels for a second-round bantam draft choice. After leading the Rebels in scoring in the previous season, Uchacz would be named captain of the Rebels for the 2023–24 season.

After attending development camp with the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the summer of 2024, Uchacz began his professional career in signing a one-year contract with Vegas' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights, on July 9, 2024. In the midst of what would ultimately be a 30 point (15 G, 15 A) in a 68 game rookie season in the 2024–25 season, Uchacz would sign a two-year entry-level contract with the Golden Knights on March 2, 2025. The following season, after an injury to Jonas Røndbjerg, Uchacz was called up to the Golden Knights on February 3, 2026. Uchacz would make his NHL debut the following day against the Vancouver Canucks, playing 11:49 and recording five hits.

Personal life

Bullying incident After a racist incident where Uchacz and a teammate bullied their lone black teammate, Mekai Sanders, they were removed from the Seattle Thunderbirds roster for the 2020-21 season.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2018–19 Seattle Thunderbirds WHL 5 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 2019–20 Seattle Thunderbirds WHL 52 2 6 8 34 — — — — — 2020–21 Spruce Grove Saints AJHL 3 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2021–22 Red Deer Rebels WHL 52 14 19 33 39 10 2 2 4 6 2022–23 Red Deer Rebels WHL 68 50 35 85 75 12 5 9 14 10 2023–24 Red Deer Rebels OHL 68 42 39 81 66 9 2 3 5 4 2024–25 Henderson Silver Knights AHL 68 15 15 30 75 — — — — — 2025–26 Henderson Silver Knights AHL 68 20 31 51 52 6 0 2 2 12 2025–26 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 3 0 0 0 5 — — — — — NHL totals 3 0 0 0 5 — — — — —