Milan, Italy — In the electric confines of the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Friday night, February 20, 2026, the United States men’s hockey team delivered a commanding performance. Before a packed crowd buzzing with anticipation for the high-stakes semifinal, Team USA dismantled third-seeded Slovakia 6-2, building an insurmountable 5-0 lead by the end of the second period. The victory—powered by multi-point efforts from stars like Jack Hughes (2 goals), Tage Thompson, Jack Eichel, and Brady
Tkachuk (1 goal)—propels the unbeaten Americans into Sunday’s gold medal showdown against rival Canada at 2:10 p.m. local time (8:10 a.m. ET), a rematch of the 2010 Vancouver final that promises to captivate hockey fans worldwide.
Matthew and Brady Tkachuk were jovial and comfortable during the post-game press conference, fielding questions with the easy confidence of players thriving on the biggest stage.
“I mean, you guys have been looking forward to this one,” Brady said, gesturing toward the media members. “You guys have been talking about it for a while, so now you get to enjoy it.”
No one seems to enjoy the spotlight more than the players with “Tkachuk” emblazoned on the back of their Team USA jerseys. From the preliminary round through the quarterfinals and now the semifinals, the Tkachuk brothers have been key contributors and consistent performers. Through five tournament games, Brady has tallied 3 goals and 2 assists for 5 points (+7 rating), including his third-period tally in the 6-2 rout, while Matthew leads with 6 assists (0 goals, 6 points, +5 rating) and has been a playmaking force on the top line alongside Brady and Jack Eichel.
Brady is absolutely right by the way.
This matchup—USA vs. Canada—is the gold medal game hockey fans around the world (aside from die-hard supporters of other nations) have been anticipating, a best-on-best clash loaded with history and intensity.
U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan sat beside Matthew during the formal press conference and responded to a question about finally getting over the hump to win Olympic gold:
“What I can tell you is I think this American team is the best team that I’ve ever been around.” He continued, “The group has a personality that is contagious.”
Personality is right—and Matthew and Brady are major factors in that. It’s something they likely inherited from their father, Keith Tkachuk, a legendary NHL power forward and one of the greatest American-born players in league history. Keith, a first-round pick (19th overall) by the Winnipeg Jets in 1990, played 18 NHL seasons (1991–2010) with the Jets/Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, and Atlanta Thrashers. He amassed 1,065 points (538 goals, 527 assists) in 1,201 games—one of only four U.S.-born players to reach 500 goals—and was a five-time NHL All-Star known for his physical, goal-scoring prowess. He also represented the U.S. in multiple international tournaments, including four Olympics, instilling a competitive fire and pro-sports exposure in his sons from an early age.
Matthew was asked about his mental preparation methods ahead of big games, such as the upcoming gold medal matchup.
“My dad just told me growing up to play better,” he joked at first.
“No, (seriously)—I watch a lot of film, visualize a lot.”
He went on to describe how he thinks about specific zones of the ice and the types of plays he wants to execute, mentally rehearsing them in detail.
Brady, meanwhile, already had dinner on his mind when asked about handling the stress and buildup to the final. “Same thing that we usually do: eat pasta, hang out, and relax,” he said. “Save that for Sunday at 2 o’clock.”
Both brothers have expressed a recurring theme of gratitude and seizing the opportunity. It’s clear they fully appreciate the magnitude of what they’re on the cusp of achieving. They’ve already lived out the childhood dreams they used to pretend to do as kids—everything except one thing: winning Olympic gold.
“Feels like this is a game where everybody is gonna be watching and tuning in,” Brady said. “It’s gonna be a real special moment. Just an opportunity to achieve your childhood dream… nothing better than that.”
Let us know what you think of the USA vs. Canada gold medal game!
