The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics ended in dramatic fashion, with Team USA defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime to capture gold on Sunday. But even after the celebrations, Brady and Matthew Tkachuk weren’t done stirring the pot.
Tkachuk Brothers Reignite Feud With Leon Draisaitl
Shortly after the win, the Wingmen with Matthew and Brady Tkachuk podcast account on X posted a photo of a bride surrounded by bridesmaids. The bride’s face was covered with a USA flag, while most of the bridesmaids had Canada flags over their faces, and one had a Germany flag.
The message wasn’t subtle. Canada fell to Team USA in the final, and the Germany flag appeared to be a pointed jab at Oilers star Leon Draisaitl.
It’s hardly the first time the Tkachuk brothers have taken aim at him.
MORE: Slovakian Forward Blasts Matthew and Brady Tkachuk As ‘Scumbags’
During Team USA’s 5-1 preliminary-round win over Germany, Matthew and Draisaitl were jawing throughout the game. With Draisaitl kept off the scoresheet, Matthew was caught on a hot mic as the players headed to the bench. “Always the bridesmaid, eh Leon? Always the bridesmaid, never the bride,” he said, with Brady nearby listening.
Draisaitl seemed to grin at the comment and later skated over toward Matthew, looking ready to respond. But Matthew didn’t bite, and as officials stepped in to separate them, Draisaitl laughed it off right in front of him.
The brief exchange quickly went viral.
The “bridesmaid” line carried extra weight given their recent history. Draisaitl’s Edmonton Oilers have fallen to Matthew Tkachuk’s Florida Panthers in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, adding another layer to the rivalry.
On the ice in Milan, both brothers delivered. Brady finished the tournament with five points (three goals, two assists), while Matthew added six assists. Their father, Hall of Famer Keith Tkachuk, won silver at the 2002 Olympics, but his sons went one step further and captured gold.
READ: Matthew Tkachuk Bangs Patriotic Drum After Finally Humbling Canada
Moments after securing gold, Matthew delivered an emotional message with Brady by his side. “The United States of America, the greatest country in the world, deserves this because we’ve been knocking at the door for a long time, and we’ve got the game of hockey right now, and I’m so honoured to be a part of this team,” he said.
The victory ended the United States’ 46-year Olympic gold drought. Since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980, the Americans had come close but never sealed it. This time, they finished the job against their biggest rival.
