Childhood pals Matthew Tkachuk, Jayson Tatum made their high school proud with NHL, NBA championships

From high school pals to champions.

For an athlete to reach the professional ranks of their respective sport is an extreme source of pride for the hometown and high school they came from. For that athlete to reach star status and win a championship only heightens that sense of pride.

But what is it like to have two athletes from the same school do it all in the same month? We’ll have to ask Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis. Because after Matthew Tkachuk’s triumph with the Florida Panthers Monday night followed his buddy Jayson Tatum winning an NBA title for the Boston Celtics last week, Chaminade is one of the few schools to know that over-the-moon feeling.

After Florida won the Stanley Cup, Tkachuk said everyone back home should be very proud.

“Two champs from St. Louis, are you kidding me right now?” Tkachuk said. “Chaminade, everybody there. All the teachers, classmates, you guys should be very proud.”

They are, Matthew. They are.

Chaminade principal Philip Rone said as much in a tweet, adding that Tkachuk should be proud too. And he had a lot more to say about “The Hilltop of Champions.”