SEATTLE — Now in his fourth season with the Seattle Kraken, Brandon Tanev has not only become a force on the ice, he's also one on the fan favorites.
The Kraken left wing grew up in a hockey family in Toronto and said his family is close. Tanev’s brothers also played hockey, and his older brother Christopher Tanev now plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs as a defenseman.
“Seeing my brother go through his journey to go to college, getting an NHL contract, having a successful career is light at the end of the tunnel, and it helped me get to where I am today,” Tanev said.
Tanev has spent endless hours on the ice, but he was also a multi-sport athlete growing up competing in cross country, track and soccer. He valued his experience playing sports growing up.
“I think it translates to later down life, like hockey or whatever sport you would have done, but (it) also teaches you good life lessons, how to be a good teammate, good friend,” Tanev said.
Tanev’s hockey journey hasn’t always been smooth. When he was 15, he was cut from a minor league team for being too small. But Tanev didn’t let that stop him from chasing his dreams.
“You never lose love for the game,” Tanev said. “You’re still watching it, you’re following it from afar even if you’re not involved in it. But when the opportunity came around, I was fortunate enough to get a chance to play again.”
After junior ice hockey Tanev went undrafted, so instead of heading to the NHL, he played at Providence College and helped the Friars win their first-ever national championship in 2015.
“When that opportunity comes, you need to take advantage of it,” Tanev said.
Nearly 10 years later, Tanev is busy trying to bring the Kraken their first Stanley Cup. Tanev enjoyed his time in Winnipeg and Pittsburgh, and he's loving life in Seattle.
“It's such a great city,” Tanev said. “The fans are if not the best or some of the best I've ever been up around.”
Seattle fans simply call him Turbo, which means spinning in Latin. Turbo also means super, accelerated and ultra.
“It's just one of those things where it's stuck, just kind of always buzzing around and humming, I guess, is a good way to put it,” Tanev said. “A lot of energy, bundle of joy most times and just go out there and just kind of be yourself.”
Off the ice, Tanev has also made headlines for his hilarious team headshots on photo day. It started in 2021 when Tanev was with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tanev said he had his photo taken, and staff asked him if he wanted to take another. Tanev said he was sure it was fine.
“I didn't see it and then obviously it kind of went viral and blew up,” Tanev said.
Now, Tanev sees the annual awkward photo as a way to connect with fans.
"It's one of those things where everyone's enjoying it now, and so you kind of stick with it," Tanev said.