Tkachuk Brothers Leaving Their Mark on 4 Nations Tournament

Whether it was by scoring goals or setting the tone of a game with their fists, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk have put their stamp on the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The Tkachuk boys both scored twice in the USA’s opening win over Finland.

On Saturday night, neither player made the scoresheet — unless you count the penalty portion of it.

Matthew Tkachuk opened the game against Canada with an opening faceoff fight with Brandon Hagel.

Once that was done, Brady Tkachuk invited Matthew’s linemate Sam Bennett to tussle.

Once again, they put their stamp on both games.

“They love their country, and this is the first time they get to play together,” dad Keith, who played for Team USA in four Olympics, told NHL.com.

“They knew the magnitude of this game. It wasn’t an exhibition game. It was the real thing. And I’m proud of them. They’re always team-first guys. It was great for the crowd, it was great for the game, and it was great for USA.”

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The performances of the Tkachuk Brothers in this tournament brings back memories of other great sibling acts for USA hockey over the years.

In 1960, the United States upset the heavily-favored Soviet Union to win gold in Squaw Valley, California.

In those days, the Olympic team was made up only of amateur players.

The Olympic Committee did not permit professionals until 1986, and the NHL did not participate until 1998.

All of which makes the achievement of the 1960 hockey team more amazing.

This was a bunch of college kids and club players going up against the Soviet Union, who were state-sponsored and year-round athletes while technically working jobs, going to school, or serving in the army.

The 1960 team included Bill and Roger Christian, who later became household names in hockey — only it was not for their playing prowess but for their entrepreneurial accomplishments.

You may have heard of Christian Brothers hockey sticks, one of the largest manufactuars of equipment in North America.

From 1964 until they sold the business in 2002, Christian Brothers was run out of their hometown of Warroad, Minnesota.

Back to the 1960 Olympics.

In the seven games of the Olympic tournament, Bill and Roger Christian combined for 13 goals and 24 points.   

Trailing the Soviet Union by a goal in the second period of their semifinal game, Billy scored to tie the match, then took a pass from Duluth hockey legend Tommy Williams, to net the game-winner.  

In the championship game, a decisive 9-4 victory over Czechoslovakia, Roger scored what turned out to be the final goal of that year’s Winter Olympics, assisted by his brother Bill.

Like the Tkachuks, the Christians were a hockey family. 

Bill Christian’s son Dave, played for the gold medal “Miracle on Ice” 1980 Winter Olympics team.  

He went on to a 15-year NHL career, during which he played in 1,009 games and scored 340 goals.

Dave Christian still holds the unique record for the fastest goal from the start of a career, scoring seven seconds into his first shift with the Winnipeg Jets, the team he joined following the Olympics in 1980.

Dave’s nephew, Brock Nelson, plays for the New York Islanders and is a teammate of the Tkachuks on the USA team at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Brothers Bill and Bob Cleary also played on the 1960 team. Bill led the team with 14 points, and Bob had 10 points. 

Both were star players at Harvard. Bill Cleary later became a long-time hockey coach for the Crimson.

Roger, Bill, and Dave Christian are all in the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, as are the Cleary brothers.

Of course, Keith Tkachuk is also in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame and will eventually be joined there by Matthew and Brady.

After taking Sunday off, the 4 Nations moves to Boston on what will be the end of the road for two of the four teams playing.

Team USA is assured of a spot in Thursday’s final, and Matthew Tkachuk is not expected to play against Sweden tonight after sustaining a lower-body injury in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Canada.

It would be hard to picture him sitting out Thursday’s final in what would be the final game the Tkachuk boys would be teammates on until this time next year at the Winter Olympics in Italy.

“Those two are lunatics,” Keith Tkachuk told NHL.com.

“I don’t know what to tell you. They’re great kids off the ice, but on the ice, you know, they’re funny. I love the personality. I think it’s great.”

4 NATIONS FACE-OFF SCHEDULE/RESULTS

At Montreal

• Wednesday: Canada 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
• Thursday: United States 6, Finland 1
• Saturday: Finland 4, Sweden 3 OT; United States 3, Canada 1

At Boston Garden

• Today: Canada vs. Finland, 1 p.m. (TNT/truTV, Max); Sweden vs. United States, 8 p.m. (TNT/truTV, Max)
• Thursday: Championship game, 8 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN+)

Standings

• 1. United States 6 points
• 2. Canada 2
• 2. Finland 2
• 2. Sweden 2