Walt Tkaczuk

Walter Robert Bogdan Tkaczuk, born September 29, 1947, is a Canadian former ice hockey centre who played fourteen seasons for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League between 1967 and 1981. Originally from Ukraine, his family moved from West Germany to Timmins, Ontario when he was two years old, making Tkaczuk the first player born in Germany to appear in an NHL game.

With the Rangers, Tkaczuk centred the "Bulldog Line" alongside Bill Fairbairn and Dave Balon, who was later replaced by Steve Vickers. While he could score his share of goals, he was more productive as a passer, registering a greater number of assists. His finest contribution, however, came as a defensive forward; he ranked among the NHL's elite shadows and faceoff men, a role that complemented the Rangers' high-scoring GAG line of Jean Ratelle, Rod Gilbert, and Vic Hadfield.

During his first two seasons, the club and media pronounced his name "Taychuk," after the Rangers' director of player personnel decided it was easier to say than the correct "Ka-Chook." Prior to the 1969–70 season, the club announced that he would thereafter be called by the correct pronunciation. In the 1972 playoffs, Ratelle was sidelined.