The Tkachuk dynasty: Ethnic Ukrainians defend the honor of Team USA with both their sticks and their fists.

It's unlikely that the rivalry between North American neighbors can be labeled the fiercest in ice hockey, but the intensity in their matches has always been present, especially when the teams feature the strongest lineups composed of players from the National Hockey League.

The final will also have a Ukrainian connection, which has always been etched in the main league of the world.

One of the leaders of the Maple Leafs is defenseman Colton Parayko from the St. Louis Blues. The legendary Keith Tkachuk's sons, Matthew and Braden, represent Team USA.

At the Four Nations Tournament, the USA and Canada faced off in the second round.

For Americans, who historically lag behind their northern neighbors in titles at world championships and the Olympic Games, this was a crucial match, so as soon as the referee dropped the puck, intense emotions erupted on the ice, threatening the integrity of the surface.

The hostility between the match participants was further fueled by Canadian fans, who booed the U.S. national anthem before the game. Therefore, it was no surprise that just three seconds in, "Yankees" forward Matthew Tkachuk charged at his counterpart, Brandon Hagel. During the fight, both players lost their helmets, and a portion of their hair remained on the ice – at that moment, hairstyles were the least concern for the fierce competitors. The crowd at the Bell Centre in Montreal was thrilled.

Just as the referees managed to separate the "fighters" and seemingly calm the emotional whirlwind, Braden Tkachuk, Matthew's younger brother, began to settle scores with Sam Bennett, and later, American J.T. Miller and Canadian Colton Parayko decided to follow their example. Notably, like the Tkachuks, Parayko also has Ukrainian roots.

Despite the 5-minute penalties handed to all participants of the fights, judging by his reaction, Matt was proud of his brother's actions.

It's hard to say how much the Tkachuks and Parayko identify with Ukraine, but the fight for their homeland's honor is undoubtedly ingrained in their DNA.

From 1991 to 2010, Matthew and Braden's father, Keith Tkachuk, a legend of the National Hockey League, "lit up" the NHL as one of the league's highest-scoring Americans. "Yuke" amassed over 1000 points in 1201 games throughout his illustrious career.

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In 1996, when Keith was still unmarried, he won the World Cup. He participated in the NHL All-Star Games five times (1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009), and in 2002, he became a silver medalist at the Olympics held in Salt Lake City. Interestingly, in the gold medal match, Tkachuk and his team lost to the Canadians – 2:5.

Some Russians, whom the Americans defeated in the semifinals of the 2002 Olympics, speculated that Tkachuk had Russian roots. There were also theories about Polish or Slovak ancestry for the star hockey player. However, Keith himself clarified all doubts regarding this matter.

Keith Tkachuk was born on March 28, 1972, in Melrose, Massachusetts. He received his hockey education in the nearby suburb of Boston at the Malden Catholic School. Early in his career, Keith earned the nickname "Walt" – a reference to New York Rangers legend Walt Tkachuk, who is also of Ukrainian descent. Tkachuk had a fantastic goal-scoring instinct and connected well with his teammates on the ice, which helped him provide assists.

In 1997, Keith married Chantal Oster, who, along with sons Matthew and Braden, also gave birth to a daughter, Taryn.

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Taryn has also followed in her father's footsteps: Matt and Brady's sister plays field hockey at the University of Virginia in the NCAA division.

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Interestingly, Matthew, who is currently only 27 years old, has already begun to surpass the achievements of his legendary father. Unlike Keith, his elder son can boast of winning the Stanley Cup in 2024 with the Florida Panthers. Moreover, prior to this, the "Panthers" had never won the most prestigious trophy in North American professional sports in over 30 years of the club's existence.

Matt celebrated this triumph with his family – his father and younger brother were evidently just as happy as the creator of this historic success.

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Last week, Matthew Tkachuk, along with his team, visited the White House, where he had the opportunity to meet Donald Trump personally and present the newly inaugurated U.S. president with a personalized Florida Panthers jersey.

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As for Braden, he is 25 years old. He also inherited his father's height (191 cm, while Keith and Matthew are 188 cm), and like his older brother, he has a fiery temperament. Countless hockey players have come home with bruises after encounters with the Tkachuks. Among Braden's victims are also Russians.

Specifically, at the end of 2019, the youngest Tkachuk, who plays in the NHL for Ottawa, was involved in a mass brawl in a match against Pittsburgh (2:5). Braden pinned star Russian hockey player Evgeni Malkin against the boards, after which players from both teams joined the fray.

In their childhood, the Tkachuks even had a bitter experience of fighting each other. Inspired by the tricks of wrestling stars, Matthew struck Braden on the head with a mini-stick, leaving a deep cut above his younger brother's eye.

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After that incident, the Tkachuk brothers, much like the star Ukrainian boxing brothers Vitali and Volodymyr Klitschko once did, promised their mother that they would not fight each other.

And now, on February 21, the brothers could win their first joint title. Much to their mother's delight!

Next year, they will attempt to surpass their father's success and bring the United States its first Olympic gold in 46 years. With their Ukrainian DNA, inherited talent, and tenacious character, this ambitious goal is well within their reach.

Denis Shakhovets, Champion