MILAN – Jack Eichel humorously remarked following the initial practice of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team that a loud noise in the Olympic Village might very well be one of the Tkachuk brothers sending the other through a wall during the night.
The challenge, thus far, is that Matthew and Brady have not had much opportunity to share their room as they adapt to life at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
“Last night, I made him stay up and watch a movie until I dozed off just to hear his snoring, but everything has been fantastic and we’ve had a lot of fun,” Matthew Tkachuk stated during a meet and greet with the U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team on Wednesday at the Starbucks Winter House. “We’ve hardly been in the room. Only at night. It feels like every time we’re in our room, we’re missing out on something exciting.”
The fear of missing out (FOMO) has been particularly strong for Tkachuk. The two-time Stanley Cup champion aims to absorb as much as he can before the intensity ramps up when the U.S. begins Olympic competition against Latvia on Thursday at 3:10 p.m. ET (USA Network | Peacock).
Whether it’s playing cards with teammates and other athletes from around the globe, meeting Snoop Dogg and Ilia Malinin – the Quad God – or attending the U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team’s 5-0 win over Canada, Tkachuk is eager to experience everything.
“I think I was the first one to raise my hand to meet Snoop (on Tuesday),” Tkachuk remarked. “I didn’t know that was a possibility until I arrived here. Snoop is somewhat of a legend. Coach Snoop came in. I wasn’t sure what to expect from him. He delivered a mix of motivational speech and humorous quotes. We were thrilled to meet him.”
Additionally, Tkachuk is fully engaged in the Olympic tradition of pin trading.
“I’ve been a significant pin trader so far,” Tkachuk noted. “Larks (Dylan Larkin) and I are definitely the two most enthusiastic on the team about it, so we’re trying to collect as many as possible. We’re collaborating rather than competing against each other. We’re assisting one another.”
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Tkachuk’s pin-trading partner expressed after practice on Wednesday that it has been enjoyable to engage in a tradition he was previously unaware of.
“I’m trying to keep pace with Chucky,” Larkin said with a grin. “We are enjoying it and meeting other athletes, and it’s a unique experience. It’s something I didn’t even know existed, but I’m trying to gather as many as I can.”
Trading Olympic pins is a tradition where athletes, staff, and fans exchange collectible pins as a friendly way to connect and take home a piece of the Olympics. Initially, delegations wore cardboard badges at the 1896 Olympics in Athens for identification. Over time, pins evolved into an Olympic tradition – some might even call it a phenomenon – where everyone from athletes to event staff, journalists, and spectators would collect and trade pins in the Olympic Village and beyond.
Tkachuk and Larkin mentioned they have enjoyed swapping pins with fellow athletes. Tkachuk highlighted one of his favorites so far is an Italy short track pin, while Larkin noted he has received a Dutch and Swiss pin that stood out to him.
Like Tkachuk, Larkin stated that meeting Snoop Dogg on Tuesday in the Olympic Village is something he will “probably always remember.”
“He is likely one of the few individuals I’ve encountered who feels larger than life,” Larkin remarked. “You look at him, and he doesn’t even seem real.”
Spending time in the Olympic Village is further enhancing the growing team chemistry within the American locker room.
“It’s fantastic that the Games are here and being around the village,” Larkin, who is sharing a room with Auston Matthews, stated. “Having roommates has really helped us bond quickly. It’s exactly where we want to be, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Mike Sullivan, head coach of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team, believes that the past few days in Milan have helped his team understand they are part of something greater than just their locker room.
“It is a truly unique experience on many levels,” Sullivan said. “The players are really enjoying the chance to stay in the village. They get to meet other athletes who are part of the United States team here. You realize you become part of a team that is larger than your sport. It is a pretty cool experience, and that is some of the conversation happening around the team. The players are really enjoying it.”
This is why Tkachuk has brought a camcorder with him to Italy.
He aims to document as much as possible now that he and his fellow NHL teammates have the opportunity to participate in the Olympics. This year marks the first time NHL players have taken part in the Olympics since 2014.
“I really want to reflect on this experience, and hopefully after we achieve our ultimate goal, years from now, I’ll have all these special moments to look back on,” Tkachuk said. “The guys and everyone are aligned on this. I feel like if you do it with your NHL team, some players might think, ‘Oh, we don’t need this.’ But I believe everyone recognizes what a unique opportunity this is. And everyone’s trying to capture pictures and videos, really aiming to soak it all in and have memories to look back on.”
The team is also aware that it is time to concentrate on the objective at hand – securing a gold medal – when the puck drops Thursday night at Milano Santagiulia Arena.
“It’s perfect timing,” Larkin said. “We’ve adjusted, had some fun, and spent time around the village, but now it’s time to compete. That’s why we’re here. With the group we have, and the camaraderie and team discussions, it’s easy for us to switch gears and get into winning mode because that’s our purpose here.”
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