U.S. assistant captain Matthew Tkachuk made his IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship debut and played more than 23 minutes in a shootout victory over the Germans.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
For many hockey fans, Matthew Tkachuk is a classic example of the guy you hate when he’s playing for the other team, but would love to have on your team.
Fans of the defending champion U.S. know what they’re getting in the 28-year-old Florida Panthers star, who made his IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship debut in Wednesday’s hard-fought 4-3 shootout win over Germany.
The son of Keith Tkachuk and older brother of Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk owns a 2026 Olympic gold medal, two Stanley Cup rings (2024, 2025), and a U18 Worlds gold medal (2015) and World Junior bronze (2016). Along with physicality, he offers offensive production: witness his six assists in Milan, not to mention back-to-back regular seasons of 100-plus points in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and three straight playoff runs with 20-plus points from 2022-23 to 2024-25.
But the USA Hockey braintrust is just as interested in the intangibles and the swagger the 188-cm, 91-kg power forward brings. Limited by injury to 34 points in 31 NHL games this year, Tkachuk is motivated to wrap up his season by helping his country join Sweden (2013) and Finland (2022) as the only “double gold” winners in an Olympic year. If he gets a gold medal around his neck in Zurich on 31 May, he will become the 31st member of the IIHF’s Triple Gold Club – and the first American member.
“He’s a leader,” said U.S. goalie Devin Cooley, who plays for Tkachuk’s original NHL club, the Calgary Flames. “He’s got a lot of experience. He seems like just an awesome guy. I’ve only known him for about a day so far, and I already love him! I think he’s a great culture guy to have and a really skilled player with a lot of experience. So I’m happy he ended up coming.”
After the Germany game, Tkachuk shared his thoughts with reporters.
On his decision to play at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship
I really wanted to join. My team’s not in the playoffs this year. My body feels good. I’ve been lucky to have some success on some teams the last year and a little bit, with Stanley Cups and the Olympic gold. So I’m just trying to keep the run going here. So far, 1-and-0, so that’s all good.
On stepping right into the U.S. lineup
Definitely, I was very happy that I was able to play today. You just get thrown right in the fire. I landed yesterday, kind of skated by myself. Morning skate here today, and then right in the game, so I was really happy about it. It definitely took me a little bit to feel it out and feel like myself again. But once the first period was towards the end, I started feeling good again.
On areas where the U.S. played well against Germany
I don’t know if we did anything really, really well today. We played solid in the third. I definitely thought we moved the puck better. Some of the Grade-A chances we gave up went in our net. Those are simple mistakes that we’ll be able to correct. But I thought as the third period went on, wearing them down shift after shift, then ultimately getting that goal, and then overtime and the shootout kind of making it happen – I definitely liked our game as it went through.
On playing with new teammates, including linemates Ryan Leonard and Tommy Novak
It was awesome. I was just laughing about it on the way here: I’ve played with pretty much nobody on this team! Maybe one or two at World Juniors 10 years ago, but other than that, this is brand-new to me. I didn’t even know who I was going to play with. I found out this morning. So one game in, I’ll definitely just continue to create some more chemistry with them and the rest of the team. I was kind of playing with everybody, jumping around from line to line, which is awesome. It got me right in the game, so I was really happy with it.
On differences between competing in the Olympics, the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, and the NHL
I don’t know. Probably just a lot of different players. I mean, the ice is bigger over here, but it doesn’t really change too much. The Olympics is the mecca. There’s a lot of differences. But at both, you have a chance to represent your country. It’s an honour to be representing the U.S. at both.
Fans of the defending champion U.S. know what they’re getting in the 28-year-old Florida Panthers star, who made his IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship debut in Wednesday’s hard-fought 4-3 shootout win over Germany.
The son of Keith Tkachuk and older brother of Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk owns a 2026 Olympic gold medal, two Stanley Cup rings (2024, 2025), and a U18 Worlds gold medal (2015) and World Junior bronze (2016). Along with physicality, he offers offensive production: witness his six assists in Milan, not to mention back-to-back regular seasons of 100-plus points in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and three straight playoff runs with 20-plus points from 2022-23 to 2024-25.
But the USA Hockey braintrust is just as interested in the intangibles and the swagger the 188-cm, 91-kg power forward brings. Limited by injury to 34 points in 31 NHL games this year, Tkachuk is motivated to wrap up his season by helping his country join Sweden (2013) and Finland (2022) as the only “double gold” winners in an Olympic year. If he gets a gold medal around his neck in Zurich on 31 May, he will become the 31st member of the IIHF’s Triple Gold Club – and the first American member.
“He’s a leader,” said U.S. goalie Devin Cooley, who plays for Tkachuk’s original NHL club, the Calgary Flames. “He’s got a lot of experience. He seems like just an awesome guy. I’ve only known him for about a day so far, and I already love him! I think he’s a great culture guy to have and a really skilled player with a lot of experience. So I’m happy he ended up coming.”
After the Germany game, Tkachuk shared his thoughts with reporters.
On his decision to play at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship
I really wanted to join. My team’s not in the playoffs this year. My body feels good. I’ve been lucky to have some success on some teams the last year and a little bit, with Stanley Cups and the Olympic gold. So I’m just trying to keep the run going here. So far, 1-and-0, so that’s all good.
On stepping right into the U.S. lineup
Definitely, I was very happy that I was able to play today. You just get thrown right in the fire. I landed yesterday, kind of skated by myself. Morning skate here today, and then right in the game, so I was really happy about it. It definitely took me a little bit to feel it out and feel like myself again. But once the first period was towards the end, I started feeling good again.
On areas where the U.S. played well against Germany
I don’t know if we did anything really, really well today. We played solid in the third. I definitely thought we moved the puck better. Some of the Grade-A chances we gave up went in our net. Those are simple mistakes that we’ll be able to correct. But I thought as the third period went on, wearing them down shift after shift, then ultimately getting that goal, and then overtime and the shootout kind of making it happen – I definitely liked our game as it went through.
On playing with new teammates, including linemates Ryan Leonard and Tommy Novak
It was awesome. I was just laughing about it on the way here: I’ve played with pretty much nobody on this team! Maybe one or two at World Juniors 10 years ago, but other than that, this is brand-new to me. I didn’t even know who I was going to play with. I found out this morning. So one game in, I’ll definitely just continue to create some more chemistry with them and the rest of the team. I was kind of playing with everybody, jumping around from line to line, which is awesome. It got me right in the game, so I was really happy with it.
On differences between competing in the Olympics, the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, and the NHL
I don’t know. Probably just a lot of different players. I mean, the ice is bigger over here, but it doesn’t really change too much. The Olympics is the mecca. There’s a lot of differences. But at both, you have a chance to represent your country. It’s an honour to be representing the U.S. at both.