Boris Katchouk Bio
Boris Katchouk is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who plays for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Katchouk was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round, 44th overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He has also appeared in games for the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators during his professional career.
Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 205 pounds, Katchouk shoots left and has built a reputation as a dependable two-way forward. He has suited up at both the NHL and AHL levels and won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championships.
Early Life and Background
Boris Katchouk was born on June 18, 1998, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to Russian parents Yelena Tumanova and Viktor Katchouk. He grew up alongside two older brothers, Alex and Yuri, in a household with a strong athletic tradition. His mother, Yelena Tumanova, represented the Soviet Union in speed skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics, giving Katchouk a direct connection to elite-level sport from an early age.
Katchouk’s family moved from Russia to Canada in 1992 in search of work, initially settling in Montreal before relocating to Vancouver and eventually making their home in Waterloo, Ontario. He holds both Canadian and Russian citizenship. As a young athlete, Katchouk played both ice hockey and box lacrosse, which helped develop his hand-eye coordination and physical conditioning before he committed fully to hockey.
Path to Hockey
Katchouk began his organized ice hockey career with the Waterloo Wolves Minor Midget team in the Alliance Hockey League. During the 2013–14 season, he recorded 25 goals and 33 assists for 58 points across 29 games while helping the Wolves capture an AHMMPL Championship. That performance earned him a move to the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, where he joined the Soo Thunderbirds.
With the Thunderbirds, Katchouk helped the team capture the James Aspin Trophy, Copeland Cup, McNamara Trophy, and Dudley Hewitt Cup. He led all Thunderbird players in scoring at the Dudley Hewitt Cup tournament with six points. While developing as a junior player, he attended Resurrection Catholic Secondary School before being selected by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. He appeared in 12 games with the Greyhounds as a 16-year-old during the 2014–15 OHL season, formally launching his major junior career.
Boris Katchouk Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
In his first full season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 2015–16, Katchouk posted 24 goals and 27 assists for 51 points across 63 games. He was named to the OHL’s All-Rookie Team and earned Greyhounds Rookie of the Year honors. Ranked 25th among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, he was drafted 44th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Katchouk returned for his sophomore season, recording 35 goals and 64 points in 66 games and leading the Greyhounds in goals and points during the 2017 OHL playoffs. On April 23, 2017, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Lightning. The following year, he scored a hat trick in a Game 7 win over the Owen Sound Attack, helping the Greyhounds reach the OHL Western Conference final.
Major Junior Breakthrough (2016–2018)
Katchouk’s draft year cemented his status as one of the Greyhounds’ top young talents. His blend of scoring touch and responsible two-way play made him a fixture in Sault Ste. Marie’s top six forward group and a key contributor on the power play.
Across his OHL career, Katchouk served as a leader for the Greyhounds in multiple playoff runs, including his dramatic hat trick that pushed the team past Owen Sound in 2018. He departed major junior as a two-time 30-goal scorer with a strong reputation for performing in high-pressure moments.
Tampa Bay Lightning Era (2018–2022)
After his junior career ended, Katchouk was assigned to the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, where he scored his first professional goal in his debut against the Rochester Americans. He broke an 11-game goal drought on March 29, 2019, against the Providence Bruins and finished with 22 points as a rookie pro. In 2020–21, he recorded 11 goals and 34 points across 29 games, leading Syracuse in assists and plus-minus.
On July 31, 2021, Katchouk signed a three-year contract to remain in the Lightning organization and earned a spot on Tampa Bay’s opening night roster. He made his NHL debut on October 16, 2021, in a 7–6 overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena, recorded his first NHL point on November 13 against the Florida Panthers, and scored his first NHL goal on December 5, 2021, against Carter Hart in a 7–1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. On March 18, 2022, Tampa Bay traded Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh, and two first-round picks to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Brandon Hagel.
Chicago Blackhawks Era (2022–2024)
Katchouk debuted for the Blackhawks on March 19, 2022, against the Minnesota Wild and scored his first Chicago goal on April 10 against Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars. A left ankle sprain suffered in a 2022 preseason game forced him to miss the first month of the 2022–23 season, but he returned on October 29 against the Buffalo Sabres and later registered his first three-point game on March 14, 2023, with a goal and two assists in a 6–3 win over the Boston Bruins.
After 17 games to start 2023–24 with only two goals and four points, Katchouk was placed on waivers and assigned to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs on December 12, 2023. He produced three goals and five points in six games before being recalled, then added three more goals in 11 additional NHL games before being placed on waivers again on March 7, 2024.
Ottawa Senators Era (2024)
Katchouk was claimed off waivers by the Ottawa Senators on March 8, 2024, and debuted two days later in a 2–1 loss to the San Jose Sharks. On March 27, 2024, he recorded his first Senators goal and first multi-point game in a 6–2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Ottawa did not extend a qualifying offer at the end of the season, allowing Katchouk to become an unrestricted free agent.
Return and Recent Seasons (2024–Present)
After going unsigned through the 2024 offseason, Katchouk accepted a professional tryout with the Anaheim Ducks on September 12, 2024, before being released on September 30. He signed a one-year AHL contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on October 8 and posted 21 goals and 49 points in 67 regular-season games, his strongest professional offensive totals. Following that rebound, he signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 1, 2025. On December 28, 2025, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Michael Milne, playing exclusively with AHL affiliate Iowa, and on March 1, 2026, he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenceman Roman Schmidt, where he joined the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Driving Style and Strengths
Katchouk is recognized as a reliable two-way winger with a strong work ethic, effective penalty-killing habits, and the ability to contribute offensively in depth roles. His skating, board play, and hockey sense have made him a dependable middle-six forward at both the NHL and AHL levels.
Notable Events and Milestones
Katchouk’s career highlights include his first NHL goal against Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers on December 5, 2021, his first NHL three-point game against the Boston Bruins on March 14, 2023, and his gold medal with Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championships in a 3–1 victory over Sweden.
Boris Katchouk Career Wins
Boris Katchouk has collected key victories at nearly every level of his career, from junior championships to international gold. His résumé includes an AHMMPL Championship with the Waterloo Wolves, multiple trophies with the Soo Thunderbirds, an OHL All-Rookie Team selection with the Greyhounds, a 2018 World Junior Championship gold medal with Canada, and several memorable NHL wins, including his debut overtime victory with Tampa Bay and his three-point performance against Boston.
Major Junior and Professional Highlights
Katchouk’s junior accolades include the James Aspin Trophy, Copeland Cup, McNamara Trophy, and Dudley Hewitt Cup with the Soo Thunderbirds, followed by an OHL All-Rookie Team nod and Greyhounds Rookie of the Year honors in 2015–16. He later served as a top playoff scorer for the Greyhounds, highlighted by his hat trick in a 2018 Game 7 win over Owen Sound.
At the professional level, Katchouk reached his first NHL postseason roster with Tampa Bay and contributed to the Lightning’s 2021–22 regular-season push. He has also recorded his first AHL goals with the Syracuse Crunch, Rockford IceHogs, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Iowa Wild, and Lehigh Valley Phantoms throughout his career.
International Achievements
Katchouk represented Canada at the 2016 Under-18 Championships in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and was a member of the gold-medal-winning squad at the 2018 World Junior Championships, scoring in his tournament debut before Canada defeated Sweden 3–1 in the final.
Boris Katchouk Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Boris Katchouk comes from a family with deep roots in competitive sport. His mother, Yelena Tumanova, was a speed skater who represented the Soviet Union at the 1988 Winter Olympics, while his father, Viktor Katchouk, raised the family in Canada after relocating from Russia in 1992. Katchouk grew up alongside two older brothers, Alex and Yuri, who helped shape his competitive drive.
Personal Life
Katchouk was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and grew up in Waterloo, Ontario, where he began his hockey journey with the Waterloo Wolves. He holds both Canadian and Russian citizenship, reflecting his family’s transcontinental background.
2025 Season Performance
Katchouk opened the 2025 calendar year in the American Hockey League before signing a one-year, two-way NHL contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 1, 2025, returning to the organization that originally drafted him. He attended Lightning training camp and was part of the organization’s depth plans at both the NHL and AHL levels heading into the new season.
On December 28, 2025, Tampa Bay traded Katchouk to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Michael Milne. Assigned to AHL affiliate Iowa, he posted three points across eight games before being dealt again on March 1, 2026, to the Philadelphia Flyers for defenceman Roman Schmidt. The moves reflected his role as a versatile depth forward capable of filling lineup spots at both levels.
Looking ahead, Katchouk joined the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and remains under contract to the Philadelphia Flyers, providing organizational depth and a path back to the NHL. His steady two-way play, penalty-killing reliability, and recent 21-goal AHL season suggest he can compete for NHL opportunities as the season progresses.
