Matthew and Brady Tkachuk had lots of reasons to celebrate in Milan.
photo: © iNTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDREA CARDIN
The Tkachuks’ reputation precedes them. In the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic gold medal game, the entire arena held their breath in anticipation as Team USA’s first line, with the Tkachuk brothers Matthew and Brady together with center Jack Eichel, got ready for the opening faceoff.
And the crowd got what they wanted. Just five seconds into the game, the brothers double-teamed to bodycheck Colton Parayko in a way that resembled the Hanson brothers from Slap Shot.
That’s the only way they know how to play. After all, they’re Keith Tkachuk’s sons.
Keith was a classic 1990s power forward who did whatever it took to get a win – while also amassing 1,065 points in 1,201 career NHL games and winning the league’s goal-scoring title in 1997.
He also has an Olympic silver from 2002 – a loss to Canada – and a 1996 World Cup of Hockey win on his résumé. He’s also a four-time Olympian who loved to represent his country – another thing his sons have learned from him.
“My dad played in four Olympics, and he raves about the experience,” Matthew added.
Maybe it’s not a coincidence that the Hansons, too, were brothers. The Tkachuks thrive on being the center of attention, and they don’t mind if it’s not all positive. On the contrary.
"What's better than being booed?" Brady asked Matthew on an episode of Wingmen, the brothers’ podcast.
"There's nothing better than being booed and scoring and winning," Matthew said, predictably.
It’s the winning part that makes it all worthwhile for them, but it’s their never-say-die attitude that makes them so beloved by fans and teammates alike.
“They're awesome for the team. They're pretty much drivers. They're the guys that, whether something needs to be said or a big hit or big play is needed, they're doing it,” defenseman Zach Werenski said.
“They are so effective in the game. Even when they're not scoring or getting on the scoresheet, they're affecting the game in different ways. They're tilting the ice in our favor. And they're always talking, they're always positive, they're always getting guys going. It's been awesome playing with them,” he added.
In Milan, though, Matthew realized that there may be something better than being booed and scoring, as the American team was wildly cheered by their fans and “U-S-A, U-S-A” chants echoed inside the Milano Santagiulia Arena from the team’s first game to the last.
“We've got some incredible support from people across the whole country, probably all over the world, that are here supporting us. I can’t explain the feeling I feel on the bench or on the ice when I hear those USA chants, but it’s the most incredible thing you could ever imagine, and it's why we do what we do,” he said.
Of course, the Tkachuks aren’t the Hanson brothers, and they’re not just out there to create havoc. They made that clear to any doubters by connecting on Team USA’s first goal in the tournament, just five and a half minutes into their first game against Latvia, when Zach Werenski’s stretch pass found Matthew.
“It was awesome. The first Olympic game experience was a game I'll never forget. We kind of caught them on a change there. I just wanted to get the puck over to Brady – I knew he was coming with some speed. It was a sick shot,” Matthew said.
“It's been very, very, very important for us. I was honestly like, ‘Are you really going to celebrate away from me right now?’ Then I grabbed him. To assist on your brother's goal – the first goal in the Olympics – and for it to be the first goal for our team is incredible.”
The Tkachuks grew up watching the Miracle on Ice movies, but since they were born into hockey – and since their father was on the 1996 World Cup–winning U.S. team – they also have a great feel for the history of the game and the importance of the U.S. gold medal performance in Milan.
“[The 1980 gold medal] set up the next generation, and the 1996 World Cup–winning team set up our generation,” Brady said.
“Now we just won, and we're going to hopefully create some more superstars who want to play not just hockey but want to represent the United States of America.”
The agents of chaos aren’t done yet.
And the crowd got what they wanted. Just five seconds into the game, the brothers double-teamed to bodycheck Colton Parayko in a way that resembled the Hanson brothers from Slap Shot.
That’s the only way they know how to play. After all, they’re Keith Tkachuk’s sons.
Keith was a classic 1990s power forward who did whatever it took to get a win – while also amassing 1,065 points in 1,201 career NHL games and winning the league’s goal-scoring title in 1997.
He also has an Olympic silver from 2002 – a loss to Canada – and a 1996 World Cup of Hockey win on his résumé. He’s also a four-time Olympian who loved to represent his country – another thing his sons have learned from him.
“My dad played in four Olympics, and he raves about the experience,” Matthew added.
Maybe it’s not a coincidence that the Hansons, too, were brothers. The Tkachuks thrive on being the center of attention, and they don’t mind if it’s not all positive. On the contrary.
"What's better than being booed?" Brady asked Matthew on an episode of Wingmen, the brothers’ podcast.
"There's nothing better than being booed and scoring and winning," Matthew said, predictably.
It’s the winning part that makes it all worthwhile for them, but it’s their never-say-die attitude that makes them so beloved by fans and teammates alike.
“They're awesome for the team. They're pretty much drivers. They're the guys that, whether something needs to be said or a big hit or big play is needed, they're doing it,” defenseman Zach Werenski said.
“They are so effective in the game. Even when they're not scoring or getting on the scoresheet, they're affecting the game in different ways. They're tilting the ice in our favor. And they're always talking, they're always positive, they're always getting guys going. It's been awesome playing with them,” he added.
In Milan, though, Matthew realized that there may be something better than being booed and scoring, as the American team was wildly cheered by their fans and “U-S-A, U-S-A” chants echoed inside the Milano Santagiulia Arena from the team’s first game to the last.
“We've got some incredible support from people across the whole country, probably all over the world, that are here supporting us. I can’t explain the feeling I feel on the bench or on the ice when I hear those USA chants, but it’s the most incredible thing you could ever imagine, and it's why we do what we do,” he said.
Of course, the Tkachuks aren’t the Hanson brothers, and they’re not just out there to create havoc. They made that clear to any doubters by connecting on Team USA’s first goal in the tournament, just five and a half minutes into their first game against Latvia, when Zach Werenski’s stretch pass found Matthew.
“It was awesome. The first Olympic game experience was a game I'll never forget. We kind of caught them on a change there. I just wanted to get the puck over to Brady – I knew he was coming with some speed. It was a sick shot,” Matthew said.
“It's been very, very, very important for us. I was honestly like, ‘Are you really going to celebrate away from me right now?’ Then I grabbed him. To assist on your brother's goal – the first goal in the Olympics – and for it to be the first goal for our team is incredible.”
The Tkachuks grew up watching the Miracle on Ice movies, but since they were born into hockey – and since their father was on the 1996 World Cup–winning U.S. team – they also have a great feel for the history of the game and the importance of the U.S. gold medal performance in Milan.
“[The 1980 gold medal] set up the next generation, and the 1996 World Cup–winning team set up our generation,” Brady said.
“Now we just won, and we're going to hopefully create some more superstars who want to play not just hockey but want to represent the United States of America.”
The agents of chaos aren’t done yet.