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
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Washington Capitals St. Louis Blues
National team	United States
NHL Draft	24th overall, 2005 St. Louis Blues
Playing career	2008–present

Timothy Leif "T. J." Oshie (born December 23, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey player. He plays as a right winger and is an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals. This team is part of the National Hockey League (NHL).

The St. Louis Blues chose Oshie in the first round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 24th player picked overall. He played for the Blues for seven years. In 2015, he was traded to the Washington Capitals. Oshie helped the Capitals win the Stanley Cup in 2018.

Many people think Oshie is great at shootouts in the NHL. A shootout happens in overtime to decide a winner. He is one of the top players for goals scored in shootouts since the 2005–06 season.

Early Life and Hockey Beginnings

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

In 2002, Oshie moved to Warroad, Minnesota. His parents were originally from there. He lived with his father and his father's cousin. He went to Warroad High School. He was a star player on the hockey team for three seasons. He helped his team win two Minnesota State Class A titles in 2003 and 2005. He was named to the state's All-Tournament Team all three years.

In his senior year (2004–05), he scored 100 points in 31 games. This included 37 goals and 63 assists. He was 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.

Playing Career Highlights

College Hockey

Oshie began his college career at the University of North Dakota. He played for three seasons in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). As a freshman, he led his team with 24 goals. He also had 21 assists, for a total of 45 points. He set a school record with nine game-winning goals that season. This was also the most among all NCAA players.

In his second year, Oshie got even better. He scored 52 points, with 17 goals and 35 assists. He was second in team scoring. He won an award for his hard work and exciting play. After North Dakota's WCHA playoffs, Oshie led all players in the 2006 NCAA Tournament. He had eight points, with four goals and four assists. He played his last season as a junior, getting 45 points in 42 games.

Time with the St. Louis Blues

Oshie playing with St. Louis in March 2014.

On May 13, 2008, Oshie decided to leave college early. He signed with the St. Louis Blues. He scored his first NHL goal on October 22, 2008. It was against the Detroit Red Wings. Oshie quickly became a fan favorite. People loved his fast and energetic way of playing. In his first year, he played in 57 games. He scored 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points. He also won the NHL's "Goal of the Year" award for the 2008–09 season. Fans voted for this award online.

During the 2010–11 NHL season, Oshie had an injury that kept him out for three months. In the 2013–14 NHL season, Oshie had a career-high year. He scored 21 goals and 39 assists, totaling 60 points.

Joining the Washington Capitals

On July 2, 2015, the Blues traded Oshie to the Washington Capitals. In return, the Blues received Troy Brouwer, Pheonix Copley, and a draft pick. Oshie wears number 77 for the Capitals. His old number, 74, was already taken by John Carlson.

Oshie had a great first season with the Capitals. He often played on the top line with stars Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Bäckström. In the 2015–16 NHL season, Oshie scored a career-high 26 goals. He also had 25 assists for 51 points in 80 games. This helped the team win their second Presidents' Trophy. This trophy goes to the team with the most points in the regular season.

In the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs, Oshie scored three goals in one game. This is called a hat trick. The third goal came in overtime, giving the Capitals a big win. Even with this, the Capitals lost the series.

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. But they lost again in the playoffs to the same team.

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

On June 23, 2017, Oshie signed a new eight-year contract with the Capitals. In the 2017–18 NHL season, his points dropped a bit. But the Capitals were still a very strong team. In the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, Oshie played a very important part. He scored 8 goals and had 21 points in 24 playoff games. Six of his goals were on the power play. A power play happens when the other team has a player in the penalty box.

On June 7, 2018, the Capitals won the Stanley Cup. They beat the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals. This was the first Stanley Cup win in the Capitals' history! Oshie is one of only 43 players to ever score 6 or more power play goals in a single playoffs.

Oshie has faced some injuries during his career. Despite these, he has often returned to play important games. On January 11, 2020, Oshie was chosen for the 2020 National Hockey League All-Star Game. This game was held in St. Louis, his former team's home city. That season, he led Eastern Conference players in shooting percentage and power play goals.

On March 16, 2024, Oshie played his 1,000th NHL game. This is a huge milestone for an NHL player. He has had some injuries that have kept him out of games, including during the 2023–24 NHL season.

Playing for Team USA

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing United States
World Championships
Bronze	2013 Sweden/Finland

Oshie has played for the United States in international competitions. 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 2010 IIHF World Championship.

On January 1, 2014, Oshie was chosen for the American team for the 2014 Winter Olympics. He was picked because he was very good at shootouts. In a game against Russia on February 15, Oshie was chosen many times for the shootout. He scored four out of six attempts, helping Team USA win 3–2.

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 Oshie brings a lot of energy and loves to play. He enjoys being around his teammates and loves the competition. He does it all with a smile.

Oshie hopes his way of playing inspires others. He said he enjoys the competition in the playoffs. He feels it's the most fun part of hockey when everyone is trying their best. He believes it's not always about skill, but about the desire to win. He hopes his effort can inspire 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 general subjects 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."

Oshie and his wife, Lauren Cosgrove Oshie, have three daughters and one son. Their family lives in McLean, Virginia. Their first daughter was born with a health condition that required surgery.

Oshie's father, Tim, had Early-onset Alzheimer's disease. After Oshie won the Stanley Cup in 2018, he said his dad didn't remember many things, but that win would stick with him forever. Tim Oshie passed away on May 4, 2021, at age 56.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and Honors