A hockey player in Florida and a basketball player in Boston united by a high school in St. Louis are rooting for each other to win their sports’ respective championships.
Jayson Tatum, the face of the Boston Celtics and Matthew Tkachuk, who occupies a similar role for the Florida Panthers are former classmates at Chaminade College Prep in St. Louis. The school proved to be a Gateway to greatness for both. Tatum graduated from the school, while Tkachuk left for the U.S. National Development program.
Both former Eagles, have come up short in previous trips to the finals, but are leading teams with 2-0 advantages in their respective Finals and are keeping track of the other. Tatum said he watched the Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night.
“I’m a big Matthew fan. We went to school together. I actually watched him win last night,” Tatum said. “Trying to learn and understand the rules in the game of hockey more and more. I got to watch the game last night. They won. Like I said, I’m extremely happy for him and his family. Hopefully they win it all.”
Tkachuck is similarly keeping track of the Celtics.
“Yeah it’s actually really cool when you think about it,” Tkachuk said. “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.”
I know I’m watching the games. I watched the game last night. I think it would be unreal for Chaminade and all of St. Louis if we can both win it,” Tkachuk added. “Yeah, I’m definitely cheering for him. Definitely.”
Chaminade is naturally rooting for both.
“The teachers here who had those guys, they chuckle a bit because they see them as just normal, goofy, little ninth graders,” Chaminade athletic director Tom Fernandez said told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article. “If you saw that video, it just captured them perfectly. They just were goofy kids. They are such babyfaces.”
