Brady Tkachuk talks Olympics, Canada rivalry, and going for gold

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Athletic Hockey Show — Brady Tkachuk Talks Olympics, Canada Rivalry, and Going for Gold

Release Date: January 25, 2026
Host: Pierre Lebrun (interviewed by Max Boltman intro)
Guest: Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators captain, Team USA Olympian)

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Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth interview with Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk as he prepares to represent Team USA at the 2026 Milan Olympic Games. Pierre Lebrun explores Tkachuk’s mindset heading into the Olympics, memories of his hockey family legacy, the heated rivalry with Team Canada, experiences at the Four Nations tournament, and his personal dreams of Olympic gold. The conversation also touches on the significance of NHL players’ return to the Games and the pressures and privileges of playing on hockey’s biggest international stage.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Weight and Dream of Becoming an Olympian

• Brady shares his excitement and pride about becoming an Olympian, emphasizing the fulfillment of a childhood dream:
  • “Being able to say that you’re an Olympian… all that hard work as a kid paying off to representing the USA… it’s a dream come true.” — Brady Tkachuk ([02:36])

Playing with Family Legacy — and with His Brother

• Growing up, the dream was always split between winning a Stanley Cup and Olympic gold:
  • “The game-winning goal narrative goes from Game 7 Stanley Cup to that OT winner in the gold medal game. Those goals you score in the driveway and on mini sticks, it’s for an event like Gold Medal Olympics.” — Brady ([03:07])
• Childhood memory: Brady brought his father Keith’s 2002 Olympic silver medal to a second-grade show-and-tell:
  • “I don’t know where it is now… my mom didn’t trust me to have it all day. I’d be wearing it at recess!” — Brady ([03:34])

Lessons from the Four Nations Tournament

• Losing a close championship game in overtime and how adversity can fuel future success:
  • “Being one goal away… sometimes you need to face some hard times, some adversity, to make your goals even sweeter and greater.” — Brady ([04:22])

The Infamous Nine Seconds: USA vs. Canada

• Brady and his brother Matthew “scripted” a bold opening with back-to-back fights to spark their team and show solidarity:
  • “I was more nervous for Matthew’s fight than my fight. We joked about being public enemy number one… we wanted to show how much of a team we were and that we’d do whatever it takes.” — Brady ([05:11])
• The Tkachuk family reactions were just as candid:
  • “Our wives were there, and I don’t even think they knew… my mom was flustered as it gets after.” — Brady ([05:44])

The US-Canada Rivalry

• Tkachuk discusses the deep-rooted rivalry and America’s hunger to dethrone Canada:
  • “Canada’s been the top dog for so many years, and now the US is knocking on the door. We want to take out the top dog in the hockey world.” — Brady ([06:01])

Not Just About the Rivalry: Depth of International Competition

• Acknowledgment that teams like Finland and Sweden are just as much a threat as Canada:
  • “There’s so many great players, so many great countries… every day is a Game 7.” — Brady ([06:39])

The Return of NHL Players to the Olympics

• Reflecting on the 12-year absence of NHL player participation and what it means for this generation:
  • “Everybody wants to be in the Olympics… it’d be great for the league and the growing of the game… every NHL player should have that opportunity.” — Brady ([07:13])

“Miracle on Ice” and American Hockey Identity

• Brady grew up watching Miracle, the quintessential US hockey movie:
  • “I don’t even think I could give you a number the amount of times I’ve watched it. It was a staple growing up.” — Brady ([08:07])
• Notes on the real pressure after the famous Soviet win:
  • “Hardest practice they ever had was the day after the Soviet game… Herb Brooks said they’d take it to the graves if they didn’t win that one.” — Brady ([08:28])

Navigating Political Backdrops

• Reflecting on heightened US-Canada tensions and representing Team USA as an NHL captain of a Canadian team:
  • “You gotta always be a little more cautious and careful in the environment… there’s a lot of that stuff you can’t control.” — Brady ([09:26])

Pressure, Expectation, and the Privilege to Compete

• Pressure as a privilege, embracing the underdog mentality:
  • “We’re probably gonna go in there with an underdog mindset, but expect a lot out of ourselves… pressure is a privilege. It’s just an honor to be on the team.” — Brady ([09:56])

The Ultimate Visualization: Gold with His Brother

• Brady reflects honestly on visualizing Olympic triumph:
  • “I’m definitely not going to shy away. It’s fun to picture that and visualize… being up there with my brother. I’ve dreamt of that moment.” — Brady ([10:16])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On being an Olympian:
  “Being able to say you’re an Olympian… it’s a dream come true.” — Brady Tkachuk ([02:36])

• On American hunger to topple Canada:
  “Canada’s been the top dog for so many years, and now the US is knocking on the door.” — Brady ([06:01])

• On visualizing Olympic gold:
  “It’s fun to picture that and visualize that… I’ve dreamt of that moment, and now I’m just going to do everything in our power as a team to have it come to fruition.” — Brady ([10:16])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Dreaming of the Olympics & Family Legacy: [02:22] – [03:34]
• Four Nations, Rivalry, and the “Opening Nine Seconds": [04:08] – [05:52]
• US-Canada Rivalry & International Competition: [06:01] – [06:56]
• NHL Players Back in Olympics: [06:56] – [07:49]
• “Miracle on Ice” Reflections: [07:49] – [08:48]
• Political Backdrop & Playing as a USA Star on a Canadian Team: [08:48] – [09:43]
• Handling Pressure & Visualizing Gold: [09:43] – [10:37]

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Episode Tone

Brady Tkachuk is earnest, candid, and clearly passionate about both his American hockey roots and the competitive fire of international play. The conversation is natural, with moments of humor, nostalgia, and deep competitive drive—particularly around the family legacy and the fierce but respectful rivalry with Team Canada. The dialogue balances personal anecdote with big-picture perspective on the meaning of the Olympics for current NHL stars.

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For listeners seeking the spirit, energy, and behind-the-scenes mindset of a top American hockey star heading into the Olympics, this episode is a can't-miss.

Transcript

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[Max Boltman]

Hey everyone, this is Max Boltman from the Athletic Hockey show and today we're bringing you an exclusive interview with Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk. My colleague Pierre Lebrun did the interview for the Athletics show, the Athletics weekly sports show airing Saturdays on Amazon Fire and available the next day on YouTube. You can check out our show notes below for more info. Brady's heading to Milan in a couple weeks to play for Team usa and if we learn anything from the four nations, Tkachuk is going to be right in the middle of it all. I'll be back with Laz on Monday, but for now, here is Pierre Lebrun and Brady Tkachuk.

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[Pierre Lebrun]

Brady Tkachuk, Olympic Games right around the corner. You've been thinking about this for years, but now that it's actually here, have you thought about what it's going to be like to put on the Team USA sweater and go out in that ice in Milan?

[Brady Tkachuk]

Being able to say that you're an Olympian and all that kind of hard work as a kid paying off to representing the USA and to do it on the biggest stage of them all. I can't believe it's right around the corner and something that will be a dream come true.

[Pierre Lebrun]

We. Well, you said we and I know you mean the whole team, but you'll be playing alongside your brother Matthew. And listen, I think most kids who grew up in North America dream first of winning a Stanley Cup. But how many conversations have you had growing up with Matthew with the idea of playing together for Team USA in Olympic Games?

[Brady Tkachuk]

I wouldn't say it was much of a conversation. I mean, I think it just was a dream. Growing up. It's, you know, you're trying to score the game winner for the Stanley cup, but that narrative for the. The game winning goal goes from Game seven Stanley cup to that OT winner in the gold medal games. Those goals you score in the driveway and the mini sticks, it's for an event like Gold Medal Olympics.

[Pierre Lebrun]

Salt Lake City, your dad won a silver medal there in 2002. Have you held a medal? Have you seen the medal? Do you know where it is?

[Brady Tkachuk]

I don't know where it is now, but I remember I had a show and tell in second grade and I don't know why it came to my head, but I brought in my dad's silver medal from Salt Lake City to show and tell with my class and be like, this is something my dad won. Now it makes sense because I think right after show and tell, my mom was there and I immediately handed it to her and then she left because she didn't trust me to have it all day. I'd be wearing it at recess and all the kids being excited, but me not really realizing the significance of it. Hopefully we can add a little more platinum to that, too.

[Pierre Lebrun]

Well, you got a taste of it at Four Nations. I mean, you got Finland, Sweden, the US and Canada, all the best NHL players, Overtime Championship game. What do you take away from Four nations? Knowing what you guys almost achieved and that you're right there?

[Brady Tkachuk]

Well, for us, it's just being one goal away and over time, especially in like a Game seven environment, that anything can happen. And we talked about it after sometimes you need to face some hard times, some adversity to make your goals even sweeter and even greater. So as much as that sucked, I think there's a lot of learning lessons I know that we'll use to be better in the Olympics.

[Pierre Lebrun]

Now, you also played Team Canada a week before that championship game at Four nations and the round robin game at the Bell center in Montreal. Walk me through those opening nine seconds of the opening Face off, which became such a huge story and I think brought in an audience to hockey that hadn't been there before. Walk me through the game plan, because I know after the game, you told us that you and Matthew had kind of scripted something like that.

[Brady Tkachuk]

I was more nervous for Matthew's fight than my fight. We just kind of joked around about it. We're public enemy number one, and we felt that even the days leading up to it, that our whole team was going to be hated. Right when we walked that building, there wasn't going to be any support and that all we had was each other. We wanted to show everybody how much of a team that we were and how we were going to do whatever it takes. And we were going to just show how much that we care about our team, our country, and that we're going to find a way to flip the table on them. So we had both our wives there, and I don't even think they knew either. So they're like, what just happened? But my mom was just sitting there just ready to enjoy it, and she was as flustered as it gets after.

[Pierre Lebrun]

Can you explain the rivalry between Team USA and Team Canada right now to someone maybe just dropping in and what is it like to be in the middle of that rivalry, especially after four nations?

[Brady Tkachuk]

Well, I think for people that don't know, it's a rivalry that's always been there at every level. Could be youth hockey. It can be for NHL players. Canada's been the top dog for so many years, and now that the US Is knocking on the door, we want to take out the top dog in the hockey world.

[Pierre Lebrun]

Well, it's funny you say that, because I was chatting with John Cooper, the head coach of Team Canada, recently, and he said we have to be careful that the tournament's not all about when we play Team usa. We don't even know if we're going to play them. There are a lot of good countries. And I'm wondering just from playing Finland and Sweden, this is not just about US and Canada, right? I mean, you got to be ready for anything there in Milan.

[Brady Tkachuk]

There's so many great players playing in this tournament and playing in the Olympics that there's no guarantee that you'll make it to the gold medal game. It's not a shoo in that. Oh, U.S. canada. There's so many great players, so many great countries that every day is so important and every day is a Game 7.

[Pierre Lebrun]

Milan will be the first Olympics with NHL players in 12 years. Since Sochi, Russia in 2014, there have been a lot of NHL stars that have been outspoken in the process to this to get back to the Olympics. I mean, how worried were you at some point that may never happen for your generation?

[Brady Tkachuk]

More feel bad for the guys that have had amazing careers within the 12 years and have had a chance to represent their country in the Olympics. And it's a no brainer that everybody wants to be in the Olympics, everybody wants to be an Olympian and just happy that it was agreed upon, that it'd be great for not just the players, but it'd be great for the league and great for the growing of the game. Where we want to be there, we should be there. And I think you always look back to when you were kids. You want to win two things. You want to win the Stanley cup and the gold medal. And I think every NHL player should have that opportunity and chance to be able to win that every four years.

[Pierre Lebrun]

Miracle on Ice. Obviously one of the greatest American sporting moments ever. Maybe the greatest. 1980 beating a juggernaut Soviet team, a bunch of college kids. It has impacted sports in many ways. But, you know, I'm wondering how many times you've watched the movie Miracle. Not to be too corny about it, what do you take from it?

[Brady Tkachuk]

I don't even think I could give you a number the amount of times I've watched it. That was a staple growing up. It was great to have Mike Ruzioni on the podcast and just getting his take of like the little stories behind the scenes. Of course, as big as that Soviet game was, they still needed to win the next one against Finland. And in the movie it doesn't show the Finland game as much because obviously the Soviet game was huge. But I thought it was, it was really cool that the hardest practice that they've ever had was the day after the Soviet game. Herb Brooks said that they'd take it to the graves if they didn't win that when that game. So they're able to still get the job done and the rest is history.

[Pierre Lebrun]

Part of the backdrop, of course, in 1980 as well, is that still the Cold War Right. And the political tension around that moment in that game where the sport transcends in many ways. I mean, listen, you lived some of that political backdrop in 2025 at four nations booing of the US anthem at the Belsair in Montreal, a politically charged tournament, as it turns out, which I don't think players on Team USA or Team Canada really wanted, but it was there. So what's your sense of representing Team USA in Italy, again, with some of the political backdrop to it? And how do you want to represent Team usa?

[Brady Tkachuk]

Well, I think I'm one of a few guys on the team are in a difficult spot when it comes to that. Being captains of Canadian teams, you gotta always be a little more cautious and careful in the environment and that stuff. But at the end of the day, there's a lot of that stuff you can't control.

[Pierre Lebrun]

A lot of people have Team USA co favorites with teams. Team Canada. Some people have Canada with a slight edge. What's it like in your mind when you think about 1980? The pressure, but the privilege for you guys to be able to accomplish that in Milan.

[Brady Tkachuk]

For us, we're probably gonna go in there with an underdog mindset, but expect a lot out of ourselves. So I think pressure is a privilege. It's just an honor to be on the team and just be a part of that group and hopefully have the chance to achieve a childhood dream.

[Pierre Lebrun]

Have you allowed yourself to envision standing on a podium and having an Olympic gold medal put around your neck?

[Brady Tkachuk]

Oh, yeah. I mean, I'm definitely not going to shy away. It's fun to picture that and visualize that and being up there with my brother. Like, of course I've visualized that. I've dreamt of that moment, and now I'm just going to do everything in our power as a team to have it come to fruition.

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