Tkachuk, who won the National Hockey League’s ultimate prize in back-to-back seasons with the Florida Panthers, shared that the Stanley Cup is physically demanding and earning the title is an extraordinary accomplishment.<\/p>\n
“Winning a Stanley Cup physically on your body is so tough, he said. “It’s the hardest trophy to win in sports.”<\/p>\n
“When it’s done, and you’re lifting the cup and your body’s just mangled, like you realize how hard it is to win it. And there’s something special about having your engraved on that for history,” he added.<\/p>\n
TEAM USA HOCKEY HERO JACK HUGHES ‘EXCLUSIVELY’ DATING CANADIAN POP STAR: REPORT<\/a><\/p>\n United States’ Brady Tkachuk (7) and Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrate after the United States’ win over Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.\u00a0 (AP Photo\/Carolyn Kaster)<\/p>\n But the outpouring of support he received for representing the “greatest country in the world” at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina<\/a> was equally meaningful.<\/p>\n “But with that being said\u2026 we had people tuning in that have never watched hockey, that were just fans of USA,” Tkachuk added.<\/p>\n “I had somebody that came up to me the other day that said that the only reason they watched is because how like patriotic we were and how we were representing the country, and now they’re big hockey fans and they couldn’t name a handful of players.”<\/p>\n TAGE THOMPSON RESPONDS TO MAGA HAT CRITICISM AFTER TEAM USA GOLD: ‘PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN’<\/a><\/p>\n Tkachuk helped secure the United States\u2019 historic win against Canada<\/a> for the first time in 46 years at the 2026 Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n Tkachuk, 28, also announced he is expecting his first child<\/a> with his wife Ellie after nearly one year of marriage.<\/p>\n After five years together, Matthew and Ellie married in July 2025. The couple is waiting to learn the baby\u2019s gender until it is born, Tkachuk shared.<\/p>\n DEVILS FANS WELCOME JACK HUGHES BACK TO NEW JERSEY WITH PREGAME CELEBRATION<\/a><\/p>\n “We aren’t finding out,” he revealed. “We’re going old school approach, which I wasn’t too fond of early, I will say.”<\/p>\n The star hockey player shared his excitement for potentially having a son, who could carry on his hockey legacy<\/a>, joking that he will get him on the ice as soon as possible.<\/p>\n “At some point would definitely love to have a boy,” he said.<\/p>\n United States’ Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates after the United States defeated Canada in a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo\/Petr David Josek)<\/p>\n “I’m lacing him up\u2026 the second he can\u2026 at least stand up, I’m gonna carry him around the ice,” he added.<\/p>\n![\"Brady](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/olympics-tkachuk-brothers-022326-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Matthew](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/olympics-matthew-tkachuk-022326-2.jpg\")
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![\"Team](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/matthew-tkachuk-miami-team-usa.jpg\")
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