An Intense Rival

MILAN – Jack Eichel was shouting, ‘Let’s go!’ towards Brady Tkachuk as the formidable Tkachuk charged toward him with 9:37 remaining in the second period on Saturday night at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.  

Eichel had just seized a loose puck from his own faceoff and sent it past Denmark goaltender Mads Sogaard, giving the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team a 3-2 lead in a closely contested match that the U.S. ultimately won 6-3. 

“You just feel like you want to make an impact; every player on the bench feels that way,” Eichel stated. “That’s why we’re here. We’re all competitors, and we try to simplify things at times and get pucks to the net. We managed to do that and score a few goals.” 

There always seems to be an extra excitement in the arena when the Tkachuk brothers are on the ice. The duo is known for their physicality, energy, and passion. 

Eichel, however, has also significantly contributed to the brothers’ success, having centered the Tkachuk brothers since last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off. 

“Yeah, he’s passionate,” Matthew Tkachuk remarked. “He communicates a lot in a positive way. He is very vocal, and everyone pays attention when he speaks. He is an excellent leader. He consistently talks on the ice, providing insights after each shift about what he observes, what we could improve, what he could do better, different plays, and various strategies. He is a very intelligent player.”

Eichel has also enjoyed his time playing alongside the Tkachuks. 

“It’s been fantastic, just developing chemistry with them,” Eichel said. “They’re doing a great job of bringing others into the fight, scoring crucial goals, and making significant plays at critical moments.”

Brady Tkachuk scored a powerful shot glove side off an Eichel face-off win to equalize the game at 2-2, just 57 seconds before Eichel’s goal in the second period, which proved to be a pivotal moment in the match. 

“It’s a pretty amazing feeling to score for your country,” Brady Tkachuk said. “You gain so much energy from this crowd and feel their support; it has truly been an incredible experience.”

Eichel mentioned during the U.S. Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp that winning gold in Milan “is the only option” and noted that the intensity of the Olympics could escalate with 12 nations competing for national pride. 

“It was quite intense during the 4 Nations,” Eichel said. “So, I would expect that (the Olympics) would be quite similar. And obviously, IIHF rules differ a bit, and being at the Olympics is the biggest stage in the world.

“Understanding what’s at stake, I believe it will be just as intense, if not more so.”

There was much to accomplish on Saturday as the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team improved to 2-0 in Group C play, keeping them in contention for the top seed in the tournament and an automatic bye into the quarterfinals. 

Noah Hanifin, who extended the U.S. lead to 4-2 with 2:37 left in the second period, has known Eichel since they were around 12 to 13 years old, and the two Massachusetts natives grew closer during their two seasons at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program before attending rival institutions Boston College and Boston University. 

The two have reunited in Las Vegas for two and a half seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights. 

“Jack is an extremely competitive individual, and the Tkachuk brothers certainly bring that gritty physical aspect to the game, but in terms of winning his battles, playing defensively, and excelling in the little things, Jack is among the best at it,” Hanifin stated. “He’s one of my closest friends from back home, and it’s a privilege to play with him in Vegas all year and here at the Olympics. 

“In my view, he’s a top-five player in the league, given his work ethic every day at the rink and what he contributes night after night. It’s challenging, and in a tough league, he consistently shines brightest on the biggest stages.”

With 14:13 left in the game and the U.S. leading 4-3, Eichel, who mentioned in August that if he could try another Olympic sport, it might be speed skating, hustled back on defense and dove at center ice to poke a loose puck away, thwarting a potential Danish breakaway. 

“He is so talented on both sides of the puck; offensively, of course, but defensively, he is so easy to play with and easy to read off of … and I just enjoy playing with him,” Brady Tkachuk said.

Bill Guerin, general manager of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team, remarked earlier in the week on how Eichel’s game has progressed since he was the No. 2 overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft (Buffalo Sabres). 

“Jack’s 200-foot game is remarkable,” Guerin stated. “Since he joined Vegas, he has really matured and transformed into this. He’s always been capable of producing; that’s not the issue, but he’s evolved into an elite two-way forward.”

The U.S. will next compete against Germany on Sunday at 3:10 p.m. ET (USA Network | Peacock).

Eichel and his teammates have been anticipating their entire careers for the opportunity to compete at the Olympics against the best. The 29-year-old understands the significance a gold medal could hold for the sport back home if the U.S. continues to advance. 

“Hockey is a growing sport in our country, and you’re witnessing more and more regions developing hockey players now,” Eichel noted. “It’s sort of a new generation. It’s been a while since we’ve had NHL players at the Olympics. And for most of us, this is our first chance to do it.

“It’s just a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate where we stand and where we believe we deserve to be. It’s a significant opportunity for our nation.” 

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