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Team USA star forward Brady Tkachuk said there is hatred between the Americans and Team Canada ahead of Sunday's highly anticipated gold medal game.
Tkachuk, 26, said that for many players on the team, the Olympic showdown against Canada will be the most important game of their careers.
“There's hate there,” Tkachuk told ESPN. “I mean, they've been the best. They've been the best for the last few years, and we want to be in that position, be the best. So, it's going to be a game where I think a lot of guys could say, 'This is the most important game you've ever played in.'”
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Brady Tkachuk of the United States takes the ice before a semifinal game against Slovakia during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Stadium in Milan, Italy, Feb. 20, 2026. (James Lang/Image Images)
Team USA defeated Team Canada in the round-robin of the 4 Nations tournament, a game that featured three fights in the first nine seconds, but did not beat Canada in the final.
The United States lost to Canada in overtime when Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid scored to ruin the Americans' hopes. Tkachuk said the loss hurt and stayed with him.
CANADA CAPTAIN SIDNEY CROSBY A GAME-TIME DECISION FOR THE GOLD MEDAL HOCKEY GAME AGAINST TEAM USA
Brady Tkachuk of the United States scores a goal during a men's ice hockey semifinal game against Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 20, 2026. (Julien De Rosa/Pool photo via AP)
“I mean, we were a shot away 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 couple of days, couple of weeks and months after that game. And I know I never want to feel that way again.”
The United States women's hockey team defeated Canada 2-1 in a thrilling overtime victory, and the men look to do the same. The American men have not won a gold medal since the 1980 Olympics. However, there were no NHL players at the 2018 or 2022 Games.
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Line judge Scott Cherrey (50) tries to separate Slovakia's Erik Cernak (81) and American Brady Tkachuk (7) during the third period of a men's ice hockey semifinal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Feb. 20, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
A key difference 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 match begins at 8:10 a.m. ET.
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