The Tkachuks: Dominating the Ice and the EA Sports Cover
The Stanley Cup championship celebration by Matthew Tkachuk, star of the Florida Panthers, included two key figures in his life: his father, Keith Tkachuk, and his brother, Brady Tkachuk, captain of the Ottawa Senators. This memorable moment adds to another milestone: the appearance of the three Tkachuks on the cover of the Deluxe edition of NHL 26 by EA Sports.Alofoke Deportes had the opportunity to talk with Matthew and Brady Tkachuk about their history with video games, the Panthers’ busy offseason, Brady’s future in Ottawa, Matthew’s health heading into next season, and their opinions on the new NHL collective bargaining agreement.“As kids, Matthew and I dreamed of playing like our father,” commented Brady Tkachuk. “His influence on how we play and prepare is still huge. It’s an honor to be on the cover. Having him by our side makes everything even better.”
Brady Tkachuk
The Olympic Gaze: A Golden Dream on the Horizon
Both players were among the first to be named to the U.S. men’s ice hockey team for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Is winning the Olympic gold at the 2026 Winter Games in Italy the ultimate revenge against Canada?Brady, playing in a Canadian city while seeking Olympic gold for the United States, how is that dynamic?“I don’t think it’s so much about revenge, but about showing how far ice hockey has come in the United States,” replied Matthew Tkachuk. “Winning gold would not only fulfill our dreams, but also bring a lot of satisfaction to those who paved the way for us.”
Matthew Tkachuk
“You’re playing for your country and for the next generation of kids. It’s an opportunity to inspire the next generation of hockey players in the United States.”
Brady Tkachuk
Do you still care about your ratings in EA Sports games?“We played a lot. NHL is definitely one of them. Brady has played more than me throughout his life, and that was something he was much better at than me. So I didn’t play much against him,” commented Matthew Tkachuk.
Matthew Tkachuk
Matthew, you were recently included in the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. How did you get involved? “I am not authorized to comment on that until it’s official. But I promise you that in a few weeks, if that comes to pass, I will answer you.”“I’m probably one of the guys who will just play a game like the Sens to see what my rating is, to see how good my player is. This version is exciting because it’s more individual. You can see in the game how I am in real life, and that’s really cool and unique.”
Brady Tkachuk
The Permanence of Stars in Florida and Brady’s Future in Ottawa
The Florida Panthers managed to retain Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand as free agents. How surprised were you that General Manager Bill Zito pulled this off?Brady, your father downplayed the speculation about your departure from Ottawa. How relieved were you to reach the playoffs, showing the progress of the Senators?“I don’t know if I was surprised. The most important thing is that your teammates and your best friends are happy with whatever decision they make. Bill did a great job of making sure that happened. You want your best friends to be rewarded for how well they played and how well they’ve been up to this point.”
Matthew Tkachuk
Brady, you’ve also been training with Trevor Zegras this summer. What do you think of his new start in Philadelphia with the Flyers?“I think we really needed to make the playoffs to show everyone that we are a team capable of that, but also capable of doing more than just making the playoffs. The playoffs are great, but that’s not our ultimate goal. The sky’s the limit for our group.”
Brady Tkachuk
“He’s a great guy, and I think it’ll be great for him to have a fresh start in Philadelphia. I think that’s going to be the best thing for him. I’m excited to see his progress this year and see how the change affects him. I bet it’ll be for the better.”
Brady Tkachuk
Finally, the NHL and the NHLPA have signed a new collective agreement. What did you like?“I’m still hoping to get back on the ice as soon as possible. If I have surgery, it will definitely be the first two, maybe three months [of the season] if that’s the case. But it’s not decided at this point yet.”
Matthew Tkachuk
“The main thing is that I like it. I’ve never liked preseason preparation. Preseason has been overrated. It’s too long, and the games are too many. However they could shorten that, I agreed with that for sure. You just have to get into the season. Just move on”.
Matthew Tkachuk
