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ice while their father joins the rest of the family in the stands when the boys represent the United States at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan. "I've been dreaming about this oppor- tunity my whole life," said Matthew, who along with Brady was among the first six players selected to the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. "Ultimately, it goes back to my dad playing in the Olympics. One of my last memories of him playing in the NHL was him playing in the 2006 Olympics in Italy. That's an incredible full circle moment it will be for my brother and me to play our first Olympics in the place where my dad played his last." Together the brothers will try to achieve something their Hall of Fame father never did – bring home an Olympic gold medal. In his four Olympics, Keith Tkachuk helped the U.S. win a silver medal at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake. The core of that 2002 team is still considered by many to be the greatest generation of players to wear the red, white and blue. Growing up idolizing the players who shocked the hockey world at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, Keith Tkachuk continues to marvel at the growth of the game as this year's squad will feature play- ers from different parts of the country who have taken the game to a different level. "The game has really evolved big time, and it keeps getting better. The skill level is on a different level than you've ever seen," the elder Tkachuk said. "It's only going to continue to get better, and it's going to be harder to make these teams, and that's a good thing for USA Hockey." After finishing second to Canada in the 2025 Four Nations Face- Off, the Tkachuk brothers feel like they have some unfinished business to take care of heading into Milan. "Losing that [tournament] might be the best thing for us moving forward," said Brady, who gained a huge follow- ing among even the most casual hock- ey fans thanks to his physical style of play. "To have that taste and be one shot away and now have an opportunity to win gold in February is something that has been everybody's dream since they were a kid, so I'm really looking forward to getting all the guys back together and com- peting to be the best in the world." While both brothers have been deal- ing with injuries this season, Matthew with an torn abductor muscle and sports hernia that has kept him off the ice since August and Brady recovering from a thumb injury, they are both on track to be ready when the puck drops in February. According to Matthew, noth- ing will derail their dream of following in their father's Olympic footsteps. "I've actually been dreaming about playing on this stage for my country forever, and it's an even bigger dream to compete with Brady," he said. This time around Keith will join Chantal and Taryn in the stands and cheer on the brothers as they make their own mark on the Olympic stage. "It's going to be great. The boys were there in Italy when I was there at the 2006 Turin Games and were old enough to realize what's going on. And now they get to go live their dream of playing in the NHL but also playing in the Olympics," dad said. "Who knows what will hap- pen down the line? I told them to take advantage of it and enjoy every moment of this because who knows when the opportunity will come up again." P PHOTOS BY Getty Images; 4th Floor Creative; USA Hockey Archive Matthew Tkachuk "I've actually been dreaming about playing on this stage for my country forever, and it's an even bigger dream to compete with Brady." USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 31 Brady and Matthew Tkachuck combined for five goals and brought a physical style of play at the 4 Nations Face-Off.