What kind of family produces two NHL superstars, a U.S.Hockey Hall of Famer, and a legacy built on chaos, toughness, and pure talent?

In this episode of Hockey Related, we dive deep intothe story of Matthew and Brady Tkachuk—from basement mini‑stick wars and St. Louis youth hockey…
to Stanley Cups, international brawls, and a moment in history where two brothers finally suited up for Team USA together.

But their story starts long before the NHL.

We trace the Tkachuk family back through Ukrainian,Austrian, and Croatian roots, immigration journeys, coal‑mining towns, wartime sacrifice, and the generations whose grit shaped the players we know today.

This isn’t just a hockey story.
It’s a family story.A legacy story.A Hockey Related story.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• The rise of Matthew & Brady from St. Louis to NHL stardom
• The legendary career of their father, “Big Walt” Keith Tkachuk
• How the Tkachuks fit into hockey’s long line of famous brother duos
• Deep genealogy: immigration, identity, and Eastern European heritage
• The powerful historical moment the family is about to make

Follow the show for more hockey stories, genealogy deepdives, and episodes that prove we’re all Hockey Related.

In this episode of Hockey Related, we break down the unbelievable story of Nate Schmidt — not just the player, but the person, the heritage, and the family history that shaped his journey.

From going undrafted to becoming a cornerstone of the Vegas Golden Knights’ inaugural season, to lifting the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, Schmidt’s hockey career is only half the story.

His family history includes:
🌍German, Austrian, Hungarian, and Dutch ancestry
🚢Two ancestors who crossed the Atlantic on the same ship and fell in love
🌾A cluster of relatives rooted in Stearns County, Minnesota
🌀A fascinating example of pedigree collapse
🎶And a moment in Austria that reconnected him with his grandfather in the most unexpected way

It’s hockey. It’s heritage. It’s humanity.
Discover why Nate Schmidt’s journey proves we’re all more connected than we think.

Welcome to Hockey Related, where we explore theincredible family stories behind the biggest personalities in the world of hockey. Today’s episode dives into the life and lineage of Paul “BizNasty” Bissonnette—enforcer, media personality, podcast legend… and descendant ofroyalty?!

From a biracial family in Welland, Ontario, to fightinglegends in the NHL, to co‑owning an ECHL team, PaulBissonnette’s story is one of grit, humor, resilience,and some truly surprising ancestral connections.

📌 Highlights:

• Paul’s roots in Welland, Ontario
• His biracial heritage, including AfricanAmerican, Belgian, English, Native American, Spanish, and Austrian ancestry.
• The remarkable story of the Moody–Jackson line
• A connection to Isabella I of Castile, sponsorof Columbus
• Another royal connection to William the Silent,Father of the Dutch Nation
• BizNasty’s NHL journey
• From enforcer to entertainer
• A deep dive into the evolution of the enforcerrole in hockey