Photo courtesy of S. Yume/Wikimedia Commons
As the 2026 Winter Olympics begin in Milan, the storied USA–Canada hockey rivalry takes center stage once again, with a battle-tested American roster leaning on Four Nations chemistry and fierce national pride in pursuit of gold.
We have seen time after time, one of the most historic rivalries in sports: the United States and Canada ice hockey teams. It is a clash of two hockey powerhouses with decades of history behind them. With the start of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, we are set to watch these teams face each other again on the biggest stage in the sports world.
The rivalry between the two nations stretches across both men’s and women’s hockey, and every time they match up, it rarely feels like just another game. The National Hockey League (NHL) has found ways to incorporate this feud into its regular season with tournaments like the Four Nations Face-Off. Players and fans alike crave the intensity that comes alongside the U.S. and Canada matchups.
Speaking of the Four Nations Face-Off, that tournament gave us a glimpse into what we can look forward to in the Olympics. Although the United States fell to Canada in a 3-2 overtime loss, the tightly contested game proved that with a few minor tweaks and adjustments, the U.S. can return home with a gold medal.
Of the 25 players on the U.S. Olympic roster, 21 competed in the Four Nations, providing continuity and building on the already strong team chemistry. The same leadership group also remains unchanged, with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews serving as captain, and alternate captains Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk and Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy.
The United States will build on what worked, and one of those being its top line. In the Four Nations, Matthew Tkachuk played on a line alongside his brother, Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk, and Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel. The brothers’ pairing sparked a 6-1 win against Finland, then a 3-1 win against Canada. So, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it!
Sullivan spoke on the pairing, saying, “We liked the Tkachuk brothers when we put them together…We thought they’re heart-and-soul guys. In a lot of ways, they personify what it means to be an American with their fierce competitive spirit, and so I thought that they were the catalyst for our team becoming a team in the true sense of the word.”
On the defensive side, the U.S. is switching it up a bit. Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber, a defensive pair for the Minnesota Wild, did not skate together during practice. Instead, Hughes skated with McAvoy, and Faber skated with Caroline Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin, who was his partner at the Four Nations.
The other thing is that the United States has two right-handed shooters on defense, meaning that a left-handed shooter will need to move to the right side. In this case, it is Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski. He typically plays the left side on the Blue Jackets, and started on the left side during the Four Nations, then was moved to the right side to play alongside Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson.
The good thing is that it will not be the first time Werenski is playing on the right side, and from a systems standpoint, it is easier. Werenski spoke on the switch, saying, “I’m just familiar with how he wants us to play…All the terms he’s using, I’m familiar with, which I think helps a lot individually. There’s less thinking out there. It’s just playing hockey and understanding where you have to be.”
Canada is the top contender for the gold, with Sweden and Finland also posing as possible dark horses. If the U.S. wins the games they are expected to, then they should be able to avoid facing Canada until the gold medal game. The minimum expectation for the U.S. is to make it to the semi-finals, but obviously, the real hope is going to be gold medals around their necks.
If we have learned anything from past Olympic Games and the Four Nations Face-Off, it is clear that for these guys, it is about national pride more than anything else. Matthew Tkachuk spoke to NHL.com, saying, “I really just think what I saw at the 4 Nations has just carried on to this, how proud we are all to wear the red, white and blue… That hasn’t changed at all for this. It’s maybe even taken a step up, so it’s been great.”
As the tournament unfolds in Milan, the lessons learned from the Four Nations Face-Off should help to propel the Americans toward a gold medal run. They are well aware that Canada is entering these Games as the heavy favorite—but if history has taught us anything in hockey, it is that anything is possible. After all, why should we not believe in miracles?
SUNY Geneseo’s student newspaper since 1922.
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