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Jayson Tatum throws out first pitch at Cardinals game alongside Bruins foe Matthew TkachukĀ
Jayson Tatum and Matthew Tkachuk both attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis.
Matthew Tkachuk is not exactly a popular figure in Boston after helping the Panthers eliminate the Bruins over the past two postseasons.
But the pugnacious power forward and St. Louis native is still on good terms with Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. The two superstars in their respective sports both attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in Missouri before charting their paths toward the NBA and NHL.
On Sunday, both Tatum and Tkachuk returned to St. Louis to throw out the first pitch at Busch Stadium before the Cardinals took on the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Both Tatum and Tkachuk have taken several victory laps this summer after playing key roles in championships for the Celtics and Panthers, respectively, in June. Tatum made his way out on the field in St. Louis with the Larry O’Brien Trophy, while Tkachuk boasted a custom championship belt after helping Florida hoist its first Stanley Cup.
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They even recreated their viral photo sitting on a school bus during Sunday’s game, bringing their former classmate — Jacob Bai — to the game to pose in the same photo.
While Tkachak left Chaminade to join the U.S. National Team Development Program in the ninth grade, he has remained friends with Tatum — with both stars cheering on one another during their respective title runs this summer.
“Yeah it’s actually really cool when you think about it,” Tkachuk told Tracey Myers of NHL.com. “Everyone from St. Louis, whether they were going to watch or not, with having both of us in, I’d say there’s a lot of people, especially the kids we grew up with and families and people who know us, they’re pulling for both teams. It’s super cool to have that support back home for not only myself, but for the Celtics as well.”
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