NHL star says representing US at Olympics is 'one of the greatest honors I’ve ever had'

Team USA men’s crystal hockey prima Brady Tkachuk offered a refreshing instrumentality connected what it meant to him to beryllium capable to correspond his state astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Ottawa Senators star’s instrumentality was acold antithetic from the responses different American Olympic athletes person fixed and garnered backlash for.

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Brady Tkachuk #7 of Team United States takes portion during grooming connected time 2 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games astatine Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena connected Feb. 8, 2026 successful Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

"Being capable to correspond the U.S. astatine this signifier successful the Olympics is 1 of the top honors I’ve ever had," helium told reporters during a grooming session, via KDSK-TV. "Truly grateful to beryllium present and correspond the red, achromatic and blue."

Tkachuk was a standout performer erstwhile Team USA took the crystal successful the 4 Nations Face-Off past year. The Americans ignited a rivalry with Canada that had agelong been dormant speech from competitory play connected the ice. Political tensions betwixt the 2 countries past twelvemonth led to an all-out brawl betwixt players during the tournament.

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Members of the United States men's crystal hockey squad including Brady Tkachuk, 3rd from right, Auston Matthews, 2nd from right, and United States' Jack Hughes, right, stitchery astir the nett during men's crystal hockey signifier astatine the 2026 Winter Olympics, successful Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.  (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

The Olympic matchups were expected to bring the aforesaid strength successful Italy, though the gloves whitethorn precise good enactment on.

Tkachuk is 1 of the fistful of NHL stars connected Team USA. It’s the archetypal clip pro hockey players are 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, J.T. 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.

Ottawa Senators' Brady Tkachuk (7) tries to get past Philadelphia Flyers' Travis Sanheim during the 3rd play of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, successful Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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The U.S. starts radical play against Latvia connected Thursday.

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