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Team USA star forward Brady Tkachuk said there was hatred between the Americans and Team Canada ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated gold medal game.
Tkachuk, 26, said that for many of the team’s players, the Olympic showdown against Canada will be the biggest game of their careers.
“There’s hate there,” Tkachuk told ESPN. “I mean, they’ve been the best. They’ve been the best the last few years, and for us, we want to be in that position, to be the best. So, it’s going to be a game where I think a lot of guys might say, ‘This is the biggest game they’ve ever played.'”
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Brady Tkachuk of the United States takes the ice before a semi-final match against Slovakia during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, February 20, 2026. (James Lang/Imagn Images)
Team USA beat Team Canada in the preliminary round of the 4 Nations tournament, a match that featured three fights in the first nine seconds, but they did not beat Canada in the final.
The United States lost to Canada in overtime when Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid scored to dash the Americans’ hopes. Tkachuk said the loss stung and scarred him.
CANADA CAPTAIN SIDNEY CROSBY A GAME-TIME DECISION FOR GOLD MEDAL HOCKEY GAME AGAINST TEAM USA
Brady Tkachuk of the United States scores a goal during a men’s ice hockey semifinal match against Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, February 20, 2026. (Julien De Rosa/Pool photo via AP)
“I mean, we were one shot last year, and sometimes you have to go through that adversity, that sadness, those tough times to make the good times feel even better,” Tkachuk said. “It was definitely a tough few days, weeks, or months after that game. And I know I never want to feel like that again.”
The United States women’s hockey team beat Canada 2-1 in a thrilling overtime victory, and the men are looking to follow suit. American men haven’t won a gold medal since the 1980 Olympics. However, there were no NHL players at the 2018 or 2022 Games.
Linesman Scott Cherrey (50) attempts to separate Erik Cernak (81) of Slovakia and Brady Tkachuk (7) of the United States during the third period of a men’s ice hockey semifinal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, February 20, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
One of the main differences between the 4 Nations Tournament and the Olympic Games is that fighting is prohibited at the Games. But the game will surely be physical.
The gold medal game begins at 8:10 a.m. ET.
