Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Before Matthew Tkachuk’s remarks, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk had already sparked controversy with his own comments about Team Canada ahead of the game.
Beyond the sport itself, he outright spoke about hatred that the United States has toward Team Canada.
According to the reported comments, Tkachuk evoked a powerful feeling, even using the term “hatred” to describe the animosity felt by his group toward the Canadian team.
It is particularly interesting to note that this stance comes from the current captain of the Ottawa Senators, a team playing directly in Canada’s capital, which highlights a certain irony.
Historically, this admitted frustration within the American program is explained by a long drought in major tournaments.
Indeed, the United States had not defeated Canada in an elimination game featuring the world’s best players since the 1996 World Cup.
During that last American triumph, Brady’s father, Keith Tkachuk, was representing his country.
Brady Tkachuk cites “hatred” toward Team Canada before Olympic final
This Olympic victory in 2026 therefore represents the culmination of 30 years of waiting for a generation of American players who, for the most part, were not even born during the 1996 tournament.
In his interview, Brady Tkachuk openly acknowledged that Canada has held the position of undisputed leader on the international stage over the past decades.
“There’s hatred there. I mean, they’ve been the top dog. They’ve been the best for the last bunch of years, and for us, we want to be in that position, be the best. So it’s going to be a game where I think a lot of guys could say, this is the biggest game that they’ve ever played in.”
– Brady Tkachuk, before gold medal game
These statements were made prior to the gold medal game and reflected the confidence within the American group heading into the final in Milan.
It also echoes what his brother Matthew said after the game.
“We own the sport of Hockey, baby”.
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Tkachuk brothers fuel USA-Canada rivalry with remarks before and after gold medal game: ‘There’s hatred there’
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