T. J. Oshie

Early years

T. J. Oshie got his start on the ice at age five with the Seattle Junior Hockey Association, where he spent a decade playing. He was born in Mount Vernon, Washington, and grew up in Everett, just north of Seattle. After his parents split amicably, he lived in Stanwood with his mother Tina and attended Stanwood High School for his freshman year. In 2002, he moved to Warroad, Minnesota—his parents’ hometown—and lived with his father Tim and his father’s cousin.

At Warroad High School, Oshie starred for three seasons, leading the Warriors to Minnesota State Class A championships in 2003 and 2005. He earned a spot on the state All-Tournament Team each of those years. As a senior, he racked up 100 points (37 goals, 63 assists) in 31 games, topping all Minnesota high school scorers. That performance landed him on the Associated Press and Pioneer Press All-State First Team and made him a finalist for Minnesota Mr. Hockey.

Following the 2004–05 season, he enrolled at the University of North Dakota to play college hockey for the Fighting Sioux.

Playing career

Oshie began his career with the Seattle Junior Hockey Association before moving to Warroad, Minnesota, in bantam. After being drafted, he played three seasons for the University of North Dakota men's ice hockey team in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). As a freshman, he led the team with 24 goals and added 21 assists for 45 points, setting a school record with nine game-winning goals, which also led all NCAA players. He was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team and the WCHA Final Five All-Tournament Team.

He led all players with eight points in the 2006 NCAA Tournament, earning NCAA West All-Tournament honors. As a junior, he had 45 points in 42 games. On May 13, 2008, Oshie forwent his senior season and signed with the St. Louis Blues. He scored his first NHL goal on October 22, 2008, against the Detroit Red Wings.

In his rookie year, he played 57 games, scoring 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points, and won the NHL's 2008–09 "Goal of the Year" fan-voted contest. On November 10, 2010, he broke his ankle in a fight with Samuel Påhlsson during a blowout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, missing three months. In the 2013–14 season, he had a career-high 60 points with 21 goals and 39 assists.

International play

Oshie represented the United States at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Vancouver. After the Blues' elimination in the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs, he received his first senior national team callup for the 2009 IIHF World Championship, and also competed in the 2010 Championship, scoring four goals and two assists in six games. In 2012, he was the last addition to the American roster after the Blues were eliminated in the second round of the 2012 playoffs.

On January 1, 2014, he was named to the American roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics, along with Blues teammates David Backes and Kevin Shattenkirk. Oshie was considered a "bubble" player but was chosen largely due to his high shootout success rate. On February 15, in a preliminary-round game against Russia, Team USA Head Coach Dan Bylsma repeatedly selected Oshie for the shootout, which resulted in a 3–2 American victory. After the first three rounds, international rules allowed coaches to reuse players; Oshie was chosen five consecutive times, converting four of six shot attempts, including the shootout-winner in the eighth round.

Personal life

Oshie grew up with a brother named Taylor and two sisters, Tawni and Aleah. He spent three years at the University of North Dakota studying general studies. His first cousin Gary Sargent and second cousin Henry Boucha both played in the NHL. Oshie is a member of the Anishinaabe or Ojibwe Nation, and his Ojibwe name, Keeway Gaaboo, means "coming home."

His father was Anishnaabe. In January 2007, Oshie and fellow North Dakota player Jonathan Toews were cited for underage drinking at a Grand Forks tavern. They pleaded guilty, got probation, and had to do community service. Oshie and his wife Lauren have three daughters and one son.

After retiring from the NHL in 2025, they sold their Virginia home and moved to Edina, Minnesota. Their first daughter was born with gastroschisis and needed surgery. Oshie’s father Tim had early-onset Alzheimer’s. After Oshie won the Stanley Cup in 2018, he said his dad would remember it, and Tim did recall it the next day. Tim died in May 2021 at age 56.

Oshie sparked controversy by tweeting support for President Donald Trump on his second inauguration day. He later said he loves Americans on both sides of the aisle.