Tkachuk brothers make NHL history
They combined for five points in a game against Finland.
When their mother Chantal watches her two sons on the same ice, she often worries. She has repeatedly mentioned that she would rather not watch their games at all.
The 4 Nations Face-Off tournament gave Chantal a pleasant change. She was able to enjoy Team USA’s 6-1 victory over Finland with a smile, without fearing her sons might fight. For the first time in their careers, Matthew and Brady wore the same competitive jersey together.
The brothers are fiercely competitive in every game. Neither of them likes losing, and they fight until the very end. They’ve been like this since childhood, when their first body checks were exchanged on the “playing field” of their living room.
“Maybe we’re brothers, but when the game starts, it’s like a war,” Matthew admitted in the past with a laugh.
Their first time playing on the same team was in 2023 during the NHL All-Star Game. Both were selected to the Atlantic Division team. “At least we could pass the puck to each other instead of fighting by the boards,” Matthew joked.
That was an exhibition game. On Friday night, they made their competitive debut, this time in national team jerseys. “I think it was better than all those dreams we had as kids,” Brady said. “It’s amazing. Honestly, right now, I don’t have the words to describe it.”
Team USA started their 4 Nations tournament match with an offensive attack. They dominated in a decisive 6-1 victory over Finland, with impressive individual stats.
Matthew, the older brother, played more than 17 minutes, scoring two goals, recording one assist, eight shots, and two body checks.
Brady, the younger brother, played just under 14 minutes, scoring twice, threatening the opponent’s goal five times, and delivering eight hits.
“Brady had just eight body checks, but it looked like 28. He was like a beast,” Matthew praised his brother.
As the first brother duo in history, they both scored more than one goal in a game at an NHL-organized tournament.
The Bleacher Report social media page dubbed the USA team “United States of Tkachuk,” highlighting the brothers’ dominance on the ice.
