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Team USA men’s ice hockey star Brady Tkachuk offered a refreshing take on what it meant for him to be able to represent his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The Ottawa Senators star’s view was very different from the answers other U.S. Olympic athletes have given and received backlash for.
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Brady Tkachuk #7 of Team USA participates in practice on the second day of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 8, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Grégory Shamus/Getty Images)
“Being able to represent the United States at this point in the Olympics is one of the greatest honors I’ve ever had,” he told reporters during a practice session, via KDSK-TV. “Really grateful to be here and represent the red, white and blue.”
Tkachuk was a standout performer when Team USA took the ice during last year’s 4 Nations Showdown. The Americans sparked a rivalry with Canada that had been long dormant outside of competitive play on the ice. Political tensions between the two countries last year led to an all-out brawl between the players during the tournament.
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Members of the United States men’s ice hockey team, including Brady Tkachuk, third from right, Auston Matthews, second from right, and Jack Hughes of the United States, right, gather around the net during men’s ice hockey practice at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
The Olympic confrontations were expected to bring the same intensity in Italy, although the gloves could very well remain.
Tkachuk is one of the few NHL stars on Team USA. This is the first time professional hockey players have been allowed to don the Stars and Stripes since the 2014 Sochi Games.
The U.S. roster includes goalies Jeremy Swayman, Jake Oettinger and Connor Hellebuyck, forwards Brady Tkachuk, Jack Eichel, JT Miller, Matt Boldy, Vincent Trocheck, Matthew Tkachuk, Dylan Larkin, Brock Nelson, Auston Matthews, Jake Guentzel, Tage Thompson, Kyle Connor, Jack Hughes and Clayton Keller and defensemen Zach Werenski, Brock Faber, Noah Hanifin, Charlie. McAvoy, Quinn Hughes, Jacob Slavin and Jake Sanderson.
Brady Tkachuk (7) of the Ottawa Senators attempts to pass Travis Sanheim of the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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The United States begins group play against Latvia on Thursday.
