๐ There are moments in sport that transcend the game itself. When two brothers from Baldwinsville, New York, pulled on USA Hockey jerseys together for the first time at the 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship, it was one of those moments. For Luke Tuch, the younger of the two, it was the realization of something he had quietly hoped for most of his life. A Brotherhood Built on Ice Luke Tuch was born on March 7, 2002, in Baldwinsville, New York, the same small upstate town that produced his older brother, Alex. Six years separated them in age, which in hockey terms meant their development paths rarely crossed on the same ice. But the game was always the thread that kept them connected. Growing up, the Tuch family had a backyard ice rink, and it was there that Luke first began to understand what hockey could give him. Alex was already carving out a future in the sport, attending the USA Hockey National Team Development Program from 2012 to 2014, and Luke watched every step of it. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Luke Tuch (@luketuch37) Six years later, Luke followed his brother through the same program. The parallels in their careers were not coincidental. They were intentional. “He’s been probably the most influential person in my hockey career,” Luke said. “Everything he did, I wanted to do. I’ve always strived to be like him.” Different Schools, Same Dream When the time came for college, the brothers chose rival programs. Alex attended Boston College, while Luke enrolled at Boston University, deepening an already spirited sibling rivalry. The BC versus BU matchup is one of the most intense in college hockey, and the Tuch household certainly had a complicated rooting interest during those years. Luke’s time at Boston University proved to be a steady progression. Here is how his college career developed year by year: 2020-21: 16 games, 6 goals, 5 assists, 11 points in his freshman season 2021-22: 26 games, 6 goals, 4 assists, 10 points as a sophomore 2022-23: 40 games, 9 goals, 11 assists, 20 points in his junior year 2023-24: 39 games, 10 goals, 20 assists, 30 points in his senior season The improvement across four years was clear and consistent. By his final season at BU, Luke had developed into one of the more productive forwards in the Hockey East conference, posting career highs in nearly every category. Standing at 6-foot-2 and 219 pounds, he had also grown into a physically imposing presence on the wing. Latvia and the Jersey Moment The World Championship in May 2023 brought something that neither brother had experienced before. On the morning of a pre-tournament game against Germany, Luke was sitting near the team’s game jerseys when he noticed something that made him laugh out loud. His jersey read “L. Tuch.” He looked over at his brother’s jersey. It read “A. Tuch.” “I was like, oh, I got the initial,” Luke said. “I don’t think Alex got the initial. Then I look at Al’s and it says A. Tuch. We were just laughing. We thought it was just hilarious.” It was a small moment, but it captured everything about what the tournament meant to them. For the first time in their hockey lives, they needed initials to tell them apart. The Professional Path Begins After completing his college career, Luke Tuch transitioned to professional hockey with the Laval Rocket, the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, who had selected him in the second round, 47th overall, in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. His early professional seasons have shown the kind of steady development that scouts look for in a player learning the pro game. The jump from college hockey to the AHL is rarely smooth, and Luke’s numbers in his first full season reflected an adjustment period. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Luke Tuch (@luketuch37) However, his most recent season with Laval showed continued growth, and at 24 years old, he carries a contract with a cap hit of $912,500 through the 2025-26 season as a restricted free agent. Here is where Luke stands professionally heading into the pivotal stretch of his young career: Three seasons with the Laval Rocket in the AHL Drafted 47th overall by Montreal in 2020 Restricted free agent status following the 2025-26 season What Comes Next The story of Luke Tuch is still very much being written. He carries the tools of a player who could push for NHL opportunities in the coming years. The combination of size, skating ability, and an upbringing steeped in the highest levels of the sport gives him a foundation that few young players can claim. Whatever comes next, the backyard rink in Baldwinsville and that World Championship ice in Latvia will always be where his story truly began. FAQs How much younger is Luke Tuch than his brother Alex? Luke Tuch is six years younger than his brother Alex. Alex was born on May 10, 1996, while Luke was born on March 7, 2002. Did Alex Tuch and Luke Tuch ever play together? Yes, for the first time in their hockey careers, Alex and Luke Tuch played together at the 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship, representing Team USA. Before that tournament, the six-year age gap between them had always prevented them from playing on the same team. Where did the Tuch brothers grow up? Both Alex and Luke Tuch grew up in Baldwinsville, New York. They spent much of their childhood skating on a backyard ice rink at their family home, which played a significant role in shaping both of their hockey careers. How old is Luke Tuch? Luke Tuch is 24 years old. He was born on March 7, 2002, in Baldwinsville, New York. How tall is Luke Tuch? Luke Tuch stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 219 pounds, which makes him a physically imposing presence as a forward at the professional level. Where is Luke Tuch from? Luke Tuch is from Baldwinsville, New York, a small town in upstate New York. He shares his hometown with his older brother Alex Tuch, who plays for the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL. What position does Luke Tuch play? Luke Tuch plays as a forward and shoots left. He lines up on the wing, the same position his older brother Alex plays in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres. Post navigation Harrison Barnes Career Earnings: How He Made $224 Million in the NBA