The United States men’s team got its first taste of the 2026 Olympic Games on Thursday, where the stars and stripes bested Latvia 5-1. The game had it all, from brothers shining on the biggest stage to an Olympic heritage following in familial footsteps.
Brady and Matthew Tkachuk are no strangers to the Olympic Games, tagging along to the 2002 rendition in Salt Lake City, Utah, where their father, Keith, represented the United States. The brothers, 28 and 26, got their first taste of the Olympic stage as players on Thursday, combining for the opening goal for the U.S.
Playing for their country together has been something the two have looked forward to for a while. The elder Tkachuk went on record with Olympics.com on Monday: “Representing my family, representing our country, being able to do it together, it’s a dream come true”. The opportunity to achieve a life-long dream alongside a family member is a bucket-list item for any siblings who share the same love of sports. It’s an opportunity the Tkachuks have taken full advantage of if Thursday was any indication.
The game was on par for what seems to be a theme for the U.S. heading into the Olympic Games, as the Hughes brothers joined the Tkachuks on the scoresheet. Quinn and Jack put together a pair of multipoint performances, a stellar way to open up their first time playing on the same team since they were teenagers. Quinn helped lead a stacked defensive core while Jack got in on the action from the forwards, a sign that the team meshed well despite a less-than-ideal first period. It’s a storybook start to the Olympics if I’ve ever seen one, and it’s only going to get more surreal the deeper the country gets in the tournament.
That’s not all, though. The Olympic Games are a family affair for the Hugheses, as their mother, Ellen, is part of player development for the United States women’s team. Ellen, an accomplished hockey player in her own right, has been serving as a consultant for the team, which looks to take home their first gold medal since 2018. Having almost the whole family involved in the Olympics is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the Hughes’ family seems to be making the most of every moment in Milan.
Brock Nelson, 34, is the oldest player on the U.S. Olympic team, but that didn’t hold him back at all on Thursday. The Colorado Avalanche forward scored two of the United States’ five goals against Latvia, officially becoming a third-generation Olympian.
Nelson, who hails from Warroad, MN, became the third member of his family to represent the United States at the Olympics on Thursday. Nelson’s grandfather, Bill Christian, won gold for the country as a forward during the 1960 Olympics in California. The feat was then followed up two decades later, when Nelson’s uncle, Dave Christian, was part of the 1980 ‘Miracle On Ice’ in Lake Placid.
Being part of any sort of family legacy is cool, but becoming a third-generation Olympian is beyond most people’s wildest dreams. Nelson has made the most of the opportunity so far, and he’ll look to add to his goal total when the United States takes on Denmark during Saturday’s four-game slate.
Overall, the start to the men’s tournament has been kind to the United States, giving them momentum to carry into their next two games against Denmark and Germany. With the offense doing its job and the defense holding opponents off the scoresheet, the U.S. seems to be in a good spot.
How they stack up against teams filled with NHL players is yet to be seen, but the way they played today makes me think they’ll be just fine. The team has the chance to take home the country’s first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980, and they have the roster to get it done. It’s a matter of time before the tournament plays out, but I believe in the stars and stripes to get it done.
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