While some families gather around a fire during the holidays, the Tackes family chooses to pummel each other into the stiff boards of an ice hockey rink. Freshman Jake Tackes is a new member of the Ladue varsity hockey team. However, the team is no stranger to his last name. Jake’s older brother Joseph, who graduated from Ladue in 2014, helped them win the Founder’s Cup in 2012 by scoring the winning shootout goal in the semifinals.

After seeing his older brother play for the first time, Jake fell in love with the game. When the opportunity first arose, Jake signed up as well.

“[Joseph has] always been my role model,” Jake said. “He’s always been the one getting all A’s then going out and playing hockey the next day.”

At that time, hockey was Jake and Joseph’s entire life. They would go to school and talk hockey all night.

“[Hockey] is a common bond that they have that helps them talk about stuff,” the boys’ father John Tackes said. “They both have a love for the sport and they’re so different. It’s really one of the few things they have in common, other than the last name.”

They always spent their free time playing hockey. Growing up, Jake and Joseph would play street hockey any chance they had.

“A couple of my favorite memories from my time playing hockey are just hanging out, playing and beating Jake on the driveway,” Joseph said. “It was fun to just hang out and goof off.”

According to John, hockey played a huge role in connecting the family. They love watching Joseph and Jake play.

“That’s just a good way to spend time with your boys,” John said. “[Hockey had] a very positive impact… it was our thing.”