Alex Tuch

Alex Daniel Tuch (born May 10, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round, 18th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

As a youth, Tuch played in the 2008 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Lemieux Academy minor ice hockey team from Phoenix, Arizona.^[1] Tuch was ranked 12th by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau on their final list of the top draft-eligible North American skaters leading into the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, where he was projected to be selected in the first round.^[2][3] Tuch was eventually selected by the Minnesota Wild as the draft’s 18th overall pick.

Tuch trained with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program team from 2012 to 2014, winning a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and gold at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships.

From 2014 to 2016, Tuch played college hockey for Boston College in the Hockey East Association. He was named to the 2014–15 Hockey East Association Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team,^[4] tallying 14 goals and 14 assists his freshman year. In 2015–16, he contributed with 18 goals and 16 assists in 40 games, while heading to the NCAA Frozen Four with the Eagles.^[5]

On April 13, 2016, Tuch signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild to begin his professional career.^[6] In his rookie professional season, after attending the Wild’s training camp, he was reassigned to the club’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Iowa Wild, for the 2016–17 season.^[7] Tuch provided a power-forward presence for Iowa, recording 18 goals and 37 points in 57 games. In the second half of the season, he received his first recall to Minnesota and made his NHL debut on February 4, 2017, against the Vancouver Canucks.^[8] That season, he appeared in six NHL games with the Wild, but did not score a goal.

On June 21, 2017, Tuch was traded to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights as part of an agreement with Vegas that the team would select Erik Haula in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft.^[9] On October 3, 2017, Tuch was assigned to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves to begin the 2017–18 season.^[10] He was recalled from the Wolves on October 15,^[11] and he scored his first NHL goal against Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins that night.^[12] Tuch went on with Vegas to the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals, where they eventually lost in five games to the Washington Capitals. In Game 2 of the finals, Tuch recovered a pass across the crease and fired on the empty net. Capitals goalie Braden Holtby sprawled out and made a stick save on Tuch.

On October 19, 2018, the Golden Knights signed Tuch to a seven-year, $33.25 million contract extension.^[13]

Personal life

Tuch was born to Carl and Sharon^[14] in Syracuse, New York. He grew up in Baldwinsville, New York. Tuch is of Slovak ancestry through his great grandmother.^[15] Tuch has a younger brother and sister that are twins; Luke Tuch was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens and is committed to play hockey for Boston University, and Leah Tuch plays field hockey.^[16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2011–12	Syracuse Jr. Stars	EmJHL		40	44	57	101	26		4	1	3	4	4
2012–13	U.S. National Development Team	USHL		38	4	6	10	24		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	U.S. National Development Team	USHL		26	13	19	32	36		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Boston College	HE		37	14	14	28	28		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Boston College	HE		40	18	16	34	33		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Iowa Wild	AHL		57	18	19	37	28		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Minnesota Wild	NHL		6	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Chicago Wolves	AHL		3	4	1	5	0		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Vegas Golden Knights	NHL		78	15	22	37	27		20	6	4	10	12
2018–19	Vegas Golden Knights	NHL		74	20	32	52	8		7	1	1	2	8
2019–20	Vegas Golden Knights	NHL		42	8	9	17	8		20	8	4	12	8
NHL totals				200	43	63	106	43		47	15	9	24	28

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2013	United States	U17			6	1	3	4	4
2014	United States	WJC18			7	0	3	3	14
2015	United States	WJC	5th		5	1	1	2	0
Junior totals					18	2	7	9	18

Awards and honors

Honors	Year
World U-17 Hockey Challenge Bronze Medal	2013	[17]
IIHF World U18 Championship Gold Medal	2014	[18]