Brady Tkachuk is confident he can shake the “Public Enemy No. 1” label he’s taken on while suiting up for his country.
The Ottawa Senators’ captain knows the only way to win back the hearts of his faithful following in Canada’s capital is to help this club get to the playoffs when its National Hockey League schedule resumes on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings.
Speaking on Fox News on Tuesday night in Washington with his brother, Matthew, a winger with the Florida Panthers by his side, Tkachuk told the hosts he knows that fans of the Senators aren’t pleased with him after he helped Team USA win a gold medal at the Winter Olympic Games.
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was in the Fox studio with the Tkachuk brothers.
The conversation took place after 20 members of the U.S. Olympic team visited with President Donald Trump in the White House on Tuesday afternoon and were invited to attend the State of the Union on Capitol Hill that night.
The U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team poses for a photo outside of the White House on Tuesday.
“You’re in Ottawa, how’s that going to be?” the host asked Tkachuk.
“They’re not the happiest with me right now,” Tkachuk said. “I’m just going to go back and give them everything that I’ve got. It’s a funny feeling when you feel their support every day, and then, within two weeks, you’re Public Enemy No. 1.
“I’m going back with a smile on my face, and I’m getting ready for a playoff push.”
Tkachuk was at the White House along with Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson, and both are expected to face the Red Wings.
The Senators are six points out of a playoff spot in the East and need both players if the club is to achieve the goal of getting back into the race. Coach Travis Green told reporters on Monday that he feels the experience that both gained from winning a gold medal will help them.
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