Matthew Tkachuk’s hockey journey has been nothing short of electric, from his blockbuster 2022 trade to the Florida Panthers to his recent stint at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he proudly repped Team USA. But before he could assist his team in going for the big W, he missed the Sweden game and played only 6:47 in a 3-2 overtime loss to Canada. Just when fans thought he’d be backlighting it up for the Panthers, the team rolled out against the Seattle Kraken—without him.

But make no mistake, Tkachuk’s popularity cannot be denied. I mean, he’s got hockey greatness in his DNA! His father, Keith Tkachuk, is not just any former player, but one of the few American-born legends to score 500 goals and amass 1000 points. Well, you might expect that this young man grew up emulating his old man, would you not? Plot twist—nope! He did not idealize his father even though he grew up in the wake of a hockey legend. Instead, his eyes were locked on a different superstar: Sidney Crosby.

Matthew Tkachuk hopped on New Heights and got real about growing up in an NHL family—but don’t get it twisted, he and his brother Brady weren’t exactly star struck by their own dad. “At one point later on in his career, our dad’s just our dad. Like, he’s not an NHL player. Yeah, he’s not cool. The cool guys are Sidney Crosby.” Even though Keith Tkachuk was a Blues legend, young Matthew and Brady had their sights set on players like Crosby and Patrick Kane—the rising stars they one day got to share the ice with. “As much as we were Blues fans… our idols and guys we wanted to be like were Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, and some of those young, you know, studs at the time.”

But Keith wasn’t just their dad—he was the ultimate pass into the NHL world before they ever suited up for a game. “There were no rules from the coach or the GM—like, my boys are coming to the rink. They’re going to skate before, they’re going to hang out in the room.” And that’s exactly what happened. Matthew and Brady were rink rats from the jump, skating with their dad’s teammates and soaking up the atmosphere. “We grew up in the rink with my dad bringing us and being around the guys, being around the trainers, treating them as good as you can and just being around older guys.”

That early exposure gave them a massive head start. By the time they hit the NHL at 18, stepping into a locker room full of pros wasn’t intimidating—it felt like home. “What a lot of guys have trouble with maybe out of the gates is what it’s like coming into a room full of NHL guys at that age… but we grew up in the rink.” The best part? The memories of just hanging out, talking hockey, and being part of something bigger. “Some of the best memories for us is just being around the room with the guys and shooting the shit and skating with them before practice.” From rink rats to NHL stars, the Tkachuk brothers were built for this life from day one.

Well, who would not want to be like Sidney Crosby, the NHL star? Also known as “Sid the Kid” and “The Next One”, he was the first pick of the 2005 NHL draft and has been making history. Crosby was not only one of the best prospects in hockey but commonly referred to as ‘the’ prospect, one of the most anticipated talents in the history of the sport. Flash forward to the year 2025 and he is still showing why he is among the legends of the game, taking his Team Canada to victory on the first ever 4 Nations Face-Off. And which player did he have to beat to achieve that victory? None other than Matthew Tkachuk.

Matthew Tkachuk tastes loss against Crosby!

Matthew Tkachuk was on fire right out of the gate, making Team USA’s opening win even sweeter with two goals to his name. With Auston Matthews leading the charge, the Americans had their eyes set on keeping the momentum rolling, but Tkachuk knew the real battle was still ahead. And let’s be frank—he has been expecting it for years. “I think I’ve thought about this game for nine years. It’s a special moment for us to be able to play with each other. So, we’ll be ready for it,” he told Sportsnet, sending a message loud and clear to Crosby, Marchand, and the entire Canadian squad.

Then came the finals, and things didn’t quite go the way he planned. Tkachuk was able to get into the ice for a bit, but an injury saw him sitting on the bench as Team USA gave their all. Canada had different plans, managing to snatch a 3-2 victory in the overtime to clinch the championship. However, the real battle happened before the finals and that was the time when the American team emerged victorious with a 3-1 score. And that game? Oh, it was something special. It only took nine seconds into the game for both teams to have three players in the penalty boxes and the Bell Centre crowd erupted.

The Tkachuk brothers and Miller were expecting to create a statement right from the start, and they didn’t disappoint. At the end of the day, Matthew is out here living his dream—going toe-to-toe with hockey’s best, making highlight reels, and keeping the family legacy alive. And he’s not doing it alone. With his brother Brady by his side, the Tkachuks aren’t just competing; they’re making sure hockey stays loud, fast, and unforgettable.