Team USA’s Matthew Tkachuk Responds To Brandon Hagel’s Group Chat Comment: “Maybe Their Team Doesn’t Like Each Other”

I’ve never been more proud to be an American.

It’s safe to say that Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-Off Championship game between the USA and Canada might be the most highly anticipated hockey game in recent memory. If the first matchup between the two neighboring countries from last weekend was any indicator of how the rematch will go, Americans and Canadians (and hockey fans in general) are in for a treat.

As you probably know (it’s okay if you don’t though), there’s been some bad blood between the United States and Canada. Following President Donald Trump’s announced plans to introduce 25% tariffs on goods imported from our neighbors to the north (which have since been paused), the formerly civil and friendly relationship between Americans and Canadians has turned sour. That’s been on full display at recent sporting events… specifically NHL games.

A form of protest has begun at these games where Canadians boo America’s “Star Spangled Banner,” and then Americans return the favor and boo Canada’s “O Canada.” The trend appears to have started up north (yeah, we’re blaming it on Canada) and has continued in the NHL, and more recently the electric 4 Nations Face-Off. Even Finland got in on booing “The Star Spangled Banner” when they matched up against Team USA in their first game, and forward Matthew Tkachuk wasn’t having it:

“I didn’t like it”

Matthew Tkachuk on the US anthem being booed earlier tonight. #4Nations pic.twitter.com/oS9oBICaGu

— Parker McLean (@ParkerMcLean15) February 14, 2025

How much did Matthew Tkachuk not like it?

Well, when it came time for the United State and Canada to play one another last Saturday, Matthew and his brother Brady Tkachuk (along with veteran forward JT Miller) dropped gloves as soon as the contest started, and it was quite possibly the best thing that’s ever happened in sports. There might be some recency bias in play there, but it certainly felt that way in the moment.

It’s how I wish every hockey game would get started:

MATTHEW TKACHUK AND BRANDON HAGEL DROP THE GLOVES OFF THE BAT pic.twitter.com/NlBt1UcHRf

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 16, 2025

Naturally, that move sparked some… let’s just say conversation around the fight that was clearly orchestrated. It even came out that the Tkachuk brothers used a team group chat to plan out that puck-drop showdown. That apparently didn’t sit well with Canada’s Brandon Hagel, who was on the receiving end of one of those fights.

Hagel spoke to the media and suggested it was a little immature for USA to converse amongst themselves and lay out a literal plan of attack:

“I think we’re out there playing for the flag, not the cameras. That’s a part of Canada that we have in there. We don’t need to initiate anything. We don’t have any group chats going on. We’re going out there playing our game and then giving it everything and doing it for our country. We don’t need to initiate everything. We’re just going to play as hard as we can and do it for the flag on the chest.”

It's all about the flag for Brandon Hagel #4Nations pic.twitter.com/Ggua8uUepL

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 18, 2025

That’s some bulletin board material if I’ve ever seen it, and obviously that was in reference to the USA group chat where the fight plans originated.

Why did Hagel say those things? That’s a good question. It certainly wasn’t an effort to deescalate the tension between the two teams that will soon face off in the 4 Nations Championship game. That’s clear to all… especially after Matthew Tkachuk responded to those comments with this:

“Maybe their team doesn’t like each other then if they don’t have group chats. That’s just a player enjoying his opportunity. Our team doesn’t care about anything that they say. There’s been a lot of chatter and talk from individuals, but we care about one thing in this room and we have millions of people that are watching us and supporting us in this country. We’re very prideful and we’re playing for them. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime for us.”

"Maybe their team doesn't like each other then if they don't have group chats… Our team doesn't care about anything that they say."

Matthew Tkachuk responds to Brandon Hagel's comments about playing for the flag. #4Nations pic.twitter.com/GdrpivoUVi

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 19, 2025

USA! USA! USA!

Who knows how it will all play out when the two countries lace em’ up with a 4 Nations title (that most people didn’t even know about a couple of weeks ago) on the line? All I know is that we’re in for a live, anything-can-happen spectacle when Team USA and Canada share the ice on Thursday. Get the popcorn ready people.

It all comes down to this…

Who will be lifting the 4 Nations Face-Off Trophy on Thursday?

: Canada vs. USA in the #4Nations Face-Off Championship Game on Thursday at 8p ET on @espn, @ESPNPlus, @DisneyPlus, @Sportsnet, and @TVASports pic.twitter.com/eF9xYTQ6Rc

— NHL (@NHL) February 18, 2025