Luke Tuch

Luke Tuch ( TUCK (born March 7, 2002) is an American professional ice hockey winger for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 47th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2020 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Early years

As a youth, Tuch played in the 2015 iteration of the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Syracuse, New York.

Junior

During the 2017–18 T1EHL season, Tuch registered 12 goals and 15 assists in 36 games for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres under-16 team. He then played two seasons for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) where he recorded 25 goals and 28 assists.

Collegiate

Committed to play college ice hockey for Boston University of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) beginning in the 2020–21 season, Tuch was selected in the second round, 47th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2020 NHL entry draft.

During his freshman year, he recorded six goals and five assists in 16 games, in a season that was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, Tuch was named a unanimous selection to the Hockey East conference All-Rookie Team. The following season, he recorded six goals and four assists in 26 games as a sophomore.

In September 2022, Tuch, now a junior, was named an assistant captain ahead of the 2022–23 season. Collectively, he recorded nine goals and 11 assists in 40 games and helped lead the Terriers to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2015.

Professional

Following BU's overtime defeat to Denver during the 2024 Frozen Four, Tuch concluded his collegiate career and signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens on April 16, 2024. He likewise agreed to a standard player contract to join the Laval Rocket, Montreal's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, for the remainder of the 2023–24 AHL season.

International play

Internationally, Tuch first represented Team USA at the 2018 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he recorded one goal across five games. The following year, he participated in the 2019 Five Nations Cup held in Sweden, winning a gold medal.

On May 4, 2023, Tuch was named to the United States men's national ice hockey team to compete at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. His brother, Alex, was also named to the American roster, marking the first time the brothers played together on the same team.

Personal life

Tuch was born to parents Carl and Sharon in Syracuse, New York and grew up in nearby Baldwinsville. He has a fraternal twin sister, Leah, and an older brother, Alex, who is a professional ice hockey player for the Buffalo Sabres. The family is of Slovak ancestry.

In August 2022, Tuch, along with his brother, launched the annual Tuch Hockey Camp in their home state of New York, a non-profit endeavor which looks to raise money to support children's cancer research as well as helping those with special needs.