T. J. Oshie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids T. J. Oshie
Oshie with the Washington Capitals in April 2016
Born	(1986-12-23) December 23, 1986 (age 38) Mount Vernon, Washington, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	St. Louis Blues Washington Capitals
National team	United States
NHL Draft	24th overall, 2005 St. Louis Blues
Playing career	2008–2024

Timothy Leif "T. J." Oshie (born December 23, 1986) is a famous American ice hockey player who recently retired. He played as a right winger, a forward position in hockey. The St. Louis Blues picked him 24th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft. He played for the Blues for seven years before joining the Washington Capitals in 2015. T. J. Oshie helped the Capitals win the amazing Stanley Cup in 2018!

T. J. is known as a "shootout specialist" in the NHL. He is one of the best players at scoring goals in shootouts. Shootouts are special tie-breaking rounds used in overtime.

Early Life and High School Hockey

T. J. Oshie was born in Mount Vernon, Washington. He grew up in Everett, which is north of Seattle. He started playing ice hockey when he was just five years old. He played for the Seattle Junior Hockey Association for ten years.

When he was 15, T. J. moved to Warroad, Minnesota. This is where his parents were originally from. He became a star player on the Warroad High School hockey team. He helped his team win two Minnesota State Class A championships in 2003 and 2005. In his final year of high school, he scored 100 points in 31 games. This made him the top scorer among all Minnesota high school players.

After high school, he went to the University of North Dakota. He played for their hockey team, the Fighting Sioux.

College Hockey Career

Oshie played for the University of North Dakota men's ice hockey team for three seasons. In his first year, he led his team with 24 goals. He also had 21 assists, totaling 45 points. He set a school record by scoring nine game-winning goals that season.

In his second year, T. J. scored 52 points. He was the second-highest scorer on his team. He also won an award for his hard work and exciting play on the ice. He played his last season with North Dakota as a junior, scoring 45 points in 42 games.

Professional Hockey Career

Playing for the St. Louis Blues (2008–2015)

Oshie playing with St. Louis in March 2014.

On May 13, 2008, T. J. Oshie decided to join the St. Louis Blues. He scored his first NHL goal on October 22, 2008. Fans quickly loved him because of his fast and energetic playing style. In his first year, he played 57 games and scored 39 points. He even won the NHL's "Goal of the Year" award, which fans voted for online.

In the 2013–14 season, Oshie had a career-high of 60 points. He scored 21 goals and made 39 assists.

Playing for the Washington Capitals (2015–2025)

On July 2, 2015, the Blues traded Oshie to the Washington Capitals. He chose to wear number 77 for the Capitals. His first season with the Capitals was very successful. He often played on the top line with famous players like Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Bäckström.

In the 2015–16 season, Oshie scored a career-high 26 goals. He also had 25 assists, for a total of 51 points. He helped the Capitals win their second Presidents' Trophy, which goes to the team with the best regular season record. During the 2016 playoffs, Oshie scored three goals in one game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. One of these goals was in overtime, giving the Capitals a big win.

In the 2016–17 season, Oshie scored even more goals, reaching 33. He also had 23 assists, for 56 points. The Capitals won another President's Trophy that year.

Oshie (left) with Nicklas Bäckström and John Carlson in April 2017

On June 23, 2017, Oshie signed a new eight-year contract to stay with the Capitals. In the 2017–18 season, his points dropped a bit, but the Capitals were still a very strong team. They finished as the second-best team in their conference.

Winning the Stanley Cup

During the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, Oshie played a very important role. He scored 8 goals and had 21 points in 24 playoff games. On June 7, 2018, the Capitals beat the Vegas Golden Knights to win their first Stanley Cup in team history! T. J. Oshie was one of only 43 players ever to score six or more power play goals in a single playoffs.

Later Career and Retirement

On January 11, 2020, Oshie was chosen to play in the 2020 National Hockey League All-Star Game. This game was special because it was held in St. Louis, his former team's home city. That season, he led all Eastern Conference players with a 20.8% shooting percentage.

On March 16, 2024, Oshie played his 1,000th NHL game. This is a huge milestone for any hockey player. He had faced some injuries that season, but he was able to reach this amazing achievement.

After missing the entire 2024–25 NHL season due to injuries, T. J. Oshie announced his retirement from hockey on June 9, 2025.

International Play

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing the  United States
World Championships
Bronze	2013 Sweden/Finland

T. J. Oshie has proudly represented the United States in many international hockey tournaments. He played in the 2006 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He also played for the senior national team in the 2009 IIHF World Championship and the 2010 IIHF World Championship.

In 2014, Oshie was chosen to be on the American team for the 2014 Winter Olympics. He was picked partly because he was so good at shootouts. In a game against Russia, Oshie was chosen to take five shootout attempts in a row! He scored on four of them, including the winning goal in the eighth round. This helped Team USA win the game.

Player Style

Oshie practicing with the Capitals in October 2015

Barry Trotz, who used to coach the Washington Capitals, described Oshie as a true "hockey player." He said that T. J. brings a lot of energy to the game. He loves playing and enjoys competing with a smile on his face.

Oshie himself hopes his way of playing inspires others. He believes that in the playoffs, it's not just about skill. It's also about the strong desire to win battles on the ice. He finds that exciting, and he hopes it motivates younger players and his teammates.

Personal Life

T. J. Oshie has three siblings: a brother named Taylor and two sisters named Tawni and Aleah. He studied at the University of North Dakota. His first cousin, Gary Sargent, and second cousin, Henry Boucha, also played in the NHL.

Oshie is from the Anishinaabe or Ojibwe Nation. His name in the Ojibwe language, "Keeway Gaaboo," means "coming home." His father was Anishnaabe.

The nickname "T. J." was given to him by his mother. She saw a movie called The Champ and thought he reminded her of the main character's son, who was named T. J. Flynn.

T. J. Oshie and his wife, Lauren Cosgrove Oshie, have three daughters and one son. Their first daughter was born with a health condition called gastroschisis, which required surgery.

Oshie's father, Tim, had Early-onset Alzheimer's disease. After T. J. won the Stanley Cup in 2018, he shared a touching moment. He said his dad was in the crowd and, even with his illness, would remember that special win. Tim Oshie passed away on May 4, 2021.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and Honors