Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle will be digging for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Read MoreBrady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle will be digging for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The Ottawa Senators captain and the club’s top centre were among the first six players respectively named to the United States and Germany’s rosters during an unveiling by all 12 participating countries on Monday. The Olympic Games will
Article content
Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle will be digging for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Article content
The Ottawa Senators captain and the club’s top centre were among the first six players respectively named to the United States and Germany’s rosters during an unveiling by all 12 participating countries on Monday.
Article content
Article content
The Olympic Games will take place in Milan and Cortina, Italy, in February.
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
The decision by the Americans to name Tkachuk and Stutzle’s invitation from Germany aren’t surprises. This will be the first time both players have had the opportunity to compete for their respective countries at the Winter Olympics.
Article content
Sports
Article content
This will be the first time in 12 years that National Hockey League players have participated in the Olympic Games. The previous time the NHL participated in the Games was in 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Article content
The Russian players have been banned from the Olympic hockey tournament because of the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Article content
Tkachuk will lead Team USA along with his brother, Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, Boston Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy, Vegas Golden Knights centre Jack Eichel and Vancouver Canucks blueliner Quinn Hughes.
Article content
The Tkachuk brothers burst onto the world stage by leading Team USA to the final of the 4 Nations Faceoff held this past February in Montreal and Boston.
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
It was Matthew and Brady, along with Rangers forward J.T. Miller, who set the tone for the renewal of a rivalry with Team Canada by setting off three fights in the first nine seconds of Game 1 of the tourney at the Bell Centre.
Article content
Read More
-
Ottawa Senators studying changes as off-season shifts into high gear
-
Ottawa Senators bring defenceman Lassi Thomson back from Europe
-
Advertisement embed-more-topic
Story continues below
Article content
Matthew began the festivities by dropping the gloves with Canada’s Brandon Hagel and Brady followed against Sam Bennett before Miller took the worst of it from Canada’s Colton Parayko.
Article content
Brady and Matthew were such a force that American coach Mike Sullivan ended up using them on the same line together during the tournament. The duo play a hard-nosed style and the Tkachuks will be a valuable commodity during a short tourney in Italy.
Article content
Fans of the Senators felt that Brady’s performance at the 4 Nations was a precursor to the playoffs. He made his post-season debut with four goals and seven points in six games against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the club’s first appearance in the playoffs since 2017.