Walt Tkaczuk

Walter Robert Bogdan Tkaczuk (born September 29, 1947) is a Canadian former ice hockey centre who played fourteen seasons for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1967 and 1981. Tkaczuk's family, originally from Ukraine, moved to Timmins, Ontario from West Germany when he was two years old. He was the first player born in Germany to appear in an NHL game.

NHL career Tkaczuk centred 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 Rangers' high-scoring GAG line of Jean Ratelle, Rod Gilbert, and Vic Hadfield. During his first two seasons with the Rangers, the club and media pronounced his name, "Taychuk" because the Rangers' director of player personnel felt it was easier to say than 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.

Tkaczuk was asked to play for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series but declined the invitation due to his obligation to his summer hockey school. He was replaced by Philadelphia Flyers' centre Bobby Clarke.

In the 1979 playoffs, 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.

Towards the end of a game on February 2, 1981, Tkaczuk suffered an eye injury when hit by a puck. He never played again. Over his career, Tkaczuk played in 945 NHL games, scoring 227 goals and 451 assists for 678 points, and accumulated 556 minutes in penalties.

In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, the authors ranked Tkaczuk at No. 14 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons.

Post-hockey career Tkaczuk is co-owner of River Valley Golf Course and Tube Slide in St. Marys, Ontario.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1963–64 Kitchener Dutchmen CJHL 30 25 37 62 — — — — — — 1963–64 Kitchener Rangers OHA 21 5 5 10 4 — — — — — 1964–65 Kitchener Dutchmen CJHL — — — — — — — — — — 1964–65 Kitchener Rangers OHA 7 1 2 3 6 — — — — — 1965–66 Kitchener Rangers OHA 47 12 31 43 39 19 7 23 30 13 1966–67 Kitchener Rangers OHA 48 23 47 70 85 13 6 8 14 23 1966–67 Omaha Knights CPHL — — — — — 3 2 0 2 2 1967–68 Kitchener Rangers OHA 52 37 56 93 81 19 17 20 37 58 1967–68 New York Rangers NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1968–69 Buffalo Bisons AHL 5 2 7 9 9 — — — — — 1968–69 New York Rangers NHL 71 12 24 36 28 4 0 1 1 6 1969–70 New York Rangers NHL 76 27 50 77 38 6 2 1 3 17 1970–71 New York Rangers NHL 77 26 49 75 48 13 1 5 6 14 1971–72 New York Rangers NHL 76 24 42 66 65 16 4 6 10 35 1972–73 New York Rangers NHL 76 27 39 66 59 10 7 2 9 8 1973–74 New York Rangers NHL 71 21 42 63 58 13 0 5 5 22 1974–75 New York Rangers NHL 62 11 25 36 34 3 1 2 3 5 1975–76 New York Rangers NHL 78 8 28 36 56 — — — — — 1976–77 New York Rangers NHL 80 12 38 50 38 — — — — — 1977–78 New York Rangers NHL 80 26 40 66 30 3 0 2 2 0 1978–79 New York Rangers NHL 77 15 27 42 38 18 4 7 11 10 1979–80 New York Rangers NHL 76 12 25 37 36 7 0 1 1 2 1980–81 New York Rangers NHL 43 6 22 28 28 — — — — — NHL totals 945 227 451 678 556 93 19 32 51 119