{{Short description|American ice hockey player (born 2002)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | name = Luke Tuch | image = 2023-05-09 Deutschland gegen USA (Eishockey-Länderspiel) by Sandro Halank–132.jpg | image_size = 230px | caption = Tuch with the United States national team in 2023 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|3|7}} | birth_place = Syracuse, New York, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 2 | weight_lb = 215 | position = Left wing | shoots = Left | league = NHL | team = Montreal Canadiens | prospect_league = AHL | prospect_team = Laval Rocket | ntl_team = United States | draft = 47th overall | draft_year = 2020 | draft_team = Montreal Canadiens | career_start = 2024 | career_end = }} '''Luke Tuch''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ʌ|k}} {{respell|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/sports/2020/11/04/from-cny-to-the-nhl--the-syracuse-nationals-are-training-hockey-s-next-stars|date=November 4, 2020|work=Spectrum News|access-date=February 20, 2025|last=Columbia|first=Erik|title=From CNY to the NHL: The Syracuse Nationals are Training Hockey's Next Stars}}</ref><ref name="Bio"/>
===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.<ref name="Boston University">{{cite web |url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/college/luke-tuch-buffalo-junior-sabres-andrew-peters-frozen-four-boston-university-alex-tuch/article_457278fc-d3ba-11ed-af07-236c63c83bf5.html |title=How Luke Tuch's path to college hockey wound through Western New York and to the Frozen Four |newspaper=The Buffalo News |first=Rachel |last=Lenzi |date=April 6, 2023 |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref> He then played two seasons for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) where he recorded 25 goals and 28 assists.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.syracuse.com/sports/2018/05/baldwinsville_hockey_prospect_heading_to_national_team_development_program.html |title=Alex Tuch's brother following his strides to national team program |newspaper=The Post-Standard |first=Lindsay |last=Kramer |date=May 4, 2018 |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref>
===Collegiate=== Committed to play college ice hockey for Boston University of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) beginning in the 2020–21 season,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hockey.dailyfreepress.com/2020/06/10/a-family-rivalry-luke-tuch-talks-about-his-brothers-college-hockey-career-the-draft-and-his-future-with-the-terriers/|title=An interview with Luke Tuch: family rivalry, the draft and his future with the Terriers |website=The Boston Hockey Blog|first=Caroline |last=Fernandez|date=June 10, 2020|access-date=February 20, 2025}}</ref> Tuch was selected in the second round, 47th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2020 NHL entry draft.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.syracuse.com/sports/2020/10/baldwinsvilles-luke-tuch-goes-to-montreal-in-second-round-of-the-nhl-draft.html |title=Baldwinsville’s Luke Tuch goes to Montreal in second round of the NHL draft |newspaper=The Post-Standard |first=Lindsay |last=Kramer |date=October 7, 2020 |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bu.edu/articles/2020/boston-university-terriers-selected-in-2020-nhl-draft/|title=Trio of Terriers Selected in 2020 NHL Draft|work=BU Today|first=Brady|last=Gardner|date=October 9, 2020|access-date=February 20, 2025}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hockeyeastonline.com/men/articles/2021/03/hockey-east-names-mens-pro-ambitions-all-rookie-team.php |title=Hockey East Names Men's Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team |publisher=Hockey East|date=March 11, 2021 |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref> The following season, he recorded six goals and four assists in 26 games as a sophomore.<ref name="Bio">{{cite web|url=https://goterriers.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/luke-tuch/22982 |title=Luke Tuch - Men's Ice Hockey |publisher=Boston University Athletics |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref>
In September 2022, Tuch, now a junior, was named an assistant captain ahead of the 2022–23 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://goterriers.com/news/2022/9/9/mens-ice-hockey-commesso-tuch-named-assistant-captains.aspx |title=Commesso, Tuch Named Assistant Captains |publisher=Boston University Athletics |date=September 9, 2022 |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Boston University"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/boston-university-mens-ice-hockey-2023-frozen-four/43512308 |title=Boston University hockey heads to Frozen Four with sixth national title in sight|website=WCVB-TV |first=Josh |last=Brogadir |date=April 4, 2023 |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref>
===Professional===
Following BU's overtime defeat to Denver during the 2024 Frozen Four,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bu.edu/articles/2024/bu-falls-in-overtime-ncaa-semifinal/ |title=BU Falls 2-1 in Overtime in 2024 NCAA Semifinal |website=BU Today |last=Moore |first=Charles |date=April 11, 2024 |access-date=April 12, 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/two-year-entry-level-contract-for-luke-tuch|title=Two-year, entry-level contract for Luke Tuch|publisher= Montreal Canadiens |via=NHL.com |date=April 16, 2024|access-date = July 8, 2024}}</ref>
==International play== Internationally, Tuch first represented Team USA at the 2018 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he recorded one goal across five games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usahockeyntdp.com/news_article/show/965099 |title=Luke Tuch Carving Out His Own Path in Hockey|publisher=United States National Team Development Program|first=Becky|last=Olsen |date=November 2, 2018 |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref> The following year, he participated in the 2019 Five Nations Cup held in Sweden,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/81eb-1940627/2019_Under-17_Roster.By_Number1.pdf?_gl=1*1o2soqi*_ga*Mzg0NjM2OTQxLjE3MzcwNTU0Mjc.*_ga_PQ25JN9PJ8*MTc0MDA3MTA3MC45LjEuMTc0MDA3MTEzMy4wLjAuMA..#_ga=2.27952123.65674997.1740071071-384636941.1737055427|title=2019 U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team – U.S. Full Roster|publisher=USA Hockey|date=August 12, 2019|access-date=February 20, 2025}}</ref> winning a gold medal.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 19, 2019|url=https://www.usahockeyntdp.com/news_article/show/1065696|title=Luke Tuch Hopes First International Tournament Title Leads to More|access-date=February 20, 2025|publisher=United States National Team Development Program|first=Becky|last=Olsen}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4489313/2023/05/04/usa-world-championships-roster-2023/ |title=Team USA announces men’s roster for 2023 IIHF World Championship: Who made the cut? |website=The Athletic |first1=Corey |last1=Pronman |first2=Sean |last2=Gentille |date=May 4, 2023 |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref> His brother, Alex, was also named to the American roster, marking the first time the brothers played together on the same team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/sabres/sabres-notebook-alex-tuch-and-brother-luke-to-play-together-at-world-championships/article_25ddcb28-dbb1-11ed-922c-b76061105823.html |title=Sabres notebook: Alex Tuch and brother, Luke, to play together at world championships |newspaper=The Buffalo News |first=Lance |last=Lysowski |date=April 15, 2023 |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1272656 |title=Tuch Brothers Thrilled to Play Together at World Championship |publisher=USA Hockey|first=Greg |last=Bates |date=May 11, 2023 |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref>
==Personal life== Tuch was born to parents Carl and Sharon in Syracuse, New York and grew up in nearby Baldwinsville.<ref name="Bio"/> He has a fraternal twin sister, Leah, and an older brother, Alex, who is a professional ice hockey player for the Buffalo Sabres.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.syracuse.com/sports/2020/10/luke-tuch-ready-to-skate-out-of-brothers-shadow-and-toward-nhl-career.html |title=Luke Tuch ready to skate out of brother’s shadow and toward NHL career |newspaper=The Post-Standard |first=Lindsay |last=Kramer |date=October 2, 2020 |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref> The family is of Slovak ancestry.<ref>{{cite news|title=US hockey star has roots in Slovakia|url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/23170110/alex-tuch-roots-in-slovakia.html |work=The Slovak Spectator|access-date=February 20, 2025|date=May 17, 2023}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Luke Tuch helping kids 'get back in the swing of hockey'|url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/luke-tuch-helping-kids-get-back-in-the-swing-of-hockey-335341046|publisher=Montreal Canadiens|access-date=February 20, 2025|date=August 22, 2022|via=NHL.com}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2018–19 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 48 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 83 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2019–20 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 47 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2020–21 | Boston University | HE | 16 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2021–22 | Boston University | HE | 26 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2022–23 | Boston University | HE | 40 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2023–24 | Boston University | HE | 39 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2023–24 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2024–25 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 44 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 40 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" |AHL totals ! 46 ! 6 ! 8 ! 14 ! 40 ! 8 ! 1 ! 1 ! 2 ! 10 |}
===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2018 | United States | U17 | 8th | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2023 | United States | WC | 4th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" | Junior totals ! 5 ! 1 ! 0 ! 1 ! 8 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" | Senior totals ! 4 ! 1 ! 0 ! 1 ! 2 |}
==Awards and honors== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! Ref |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" |College |- | Hockey East All-Rookie Team | 2021 | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uscho.com/2021/03/11/hockey-east-announces-mens-all-rookie-team-six-other-awards-for-2020-21-college-hockey-season/ |title=Hockey East announces men’s all-rookie team, six other awards for 2020-21 college hockey season|publisher=US College Hockey Organization|date=March 11, 2021|access-date=July 14, 2024}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Ice hockey stats |elite=470086 |hockeydb=217353}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuch, Luke}} Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:American men's ice hockey left wingers Category:Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey Category:Ice hockey players from New York (state) Category:Laval Rocket players Category:Montreal Canadiens draft picks Category:Sportspeople from Baldwinsville, New York Category:USA Hockey National Team Development Program players Category:21st-century American sportsmen