You know what they say—like father, like sons! And in the Tkachuk household, that couldn’t be more true. Just a day ago, the USA and Canada went head-to-head in the much-anticipated 4 Nations Face-Off, and the Tkachuk brothers stepped onto the ice prepared to make a mark. However, Matthew Tkachuk, battling what seemed to be a lower-body injury, tried to push through but couldn’t finish the third period. He was clearly struggling and he was sitting on the bench with only 13 minutes left on the clock. But before that? Oh, it was absolute chaos on the ice!

And, in a way, the Tkachuk brothers did manage to leave a mark or two.

The Montreal crowd was buzzing even before puck drop, and the second the game started, fists started flying. Matthew started it by getting into a fight with Brandon Hagel immediately after the faceoff, and Brady was not going to be left behind; he also engaged Sam Bennett in a fight shortly after. And while the Tkachuk brothers literally took the fight to their arch-rivals, their dad, Keith Tkachuk, couldn’t help but feel proud of them. “And I’m proud of them. They’re always team-first guys. It was great for the crowd, it was great for the game, and it was great for USA,” he said.

What’s more? The match even brought him a serious blast from the past.

As per a report by NHL.com, Brad and Matthew Tkachuk’s hockey legend father couldn’t help but get lost in the memories after watching his sons do their thing against Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off. As he watched, the feeling was all too familiar, taking him back to 1996. He admitted, “I don’t know, it just felt right. We were always the little brother to Canada, so we wanted to make our mark. And that was a great tournament for that team, the ’96 team. I don’t know. It’s just great to see where USA has come.” And with a grin, he added, “Well, last night reminded me of ’96.”

Keith was texting with his old 1996 teammates during and after the game, catching up on old times. “Oh, yeah,” he chuckled. “I got a few guys. It was awesome. Gary Suter. Oh, ‘Cheli.’ Nobody’s a bigger U.S. fan than Chris Chelios, the godfather. Tony Amonte reached out, and Dougie Weight’s always one of my friends, and ‘Billy G’ is working.” Guess the Tkachuk family isn’t just about the present—they’re always in touch with their roots.

Keith Tkachuk, back in 1996, sure knew how to make an impression—fighting Claude Lemieux in the blink of an eye during a USA-Canada showdown at the World Cup of Hockey. That game, full of fire, ended the game 5-3 in favor of the U.S. team and Keith earned six points in five games. A true definition of determination and passion, he played a key role in getting the Team USA to the championship to pave the way for some unforgettable family moments.

Fast forward to the future, and Keith’s sons, Matthew and Brady, are following in his huge footsteps. Next year there is a potential for the Tkachuk family to make history, with the first father and son to play for the US team in the NHL Olympic era. Keith was already a part of three Olympics and now with Tkachuks and other star families such as the Hughes, the Milan Cortina Games may be the family affair on ice. Pretty wild, right? And guess what? The Tkachuk brothers even helped U.S. clinch another victory, this time in a more conventional way.

Tkachuk brothers dominate on ice!

It had been almost nine years since the two countries played against each other in an NHL-style ‘best-on-best’ series and it has been worth the wait. The last time when these two sides met on the hockey field was at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and now it has reached a new level. Of course, taking into consideration the overall record, Canada is ahead, but this game changed the tide for America.

Matthew was looking forward to this moment for nine years and he was all charged up. During the post-match interview with Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas, he said, “I think I’ve thought about this game for nine years, so we’ll be ready for it.”

But going back to the opening act at the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Tkachuk brothers didn’t disappoint. After Finland grabbed an early lead, Brady Tkachuk quickly evened things up with a goal, setting the stage for what was to come. Minnesota Wild’s Matt Boldy helped put the U.S. up 2-1, and soon after, Matthew Tkachuk lit the lamp on a power play that stretched into the second period. With the U.S. holding a strong lead, the Tkachuk brothers were at the heart of the action, with both brothers scoring in the third to seal a massive 6-1 win. The victory put the U.S. in the driver’s seat of the tournament, taking all three points from their first game. So what do you think of the Tkachuk brothers? Let us know in the comments!