Matthew Tkachuk 'completely jacked' for 4 Nations: 'This is not an All-Star Game'

When Matthew Tkachuk last had the chance to pull on a Team USA sweater, he came away with some good memories from the games played against Canada.

Tkachuk was part of an American team that hammered its rival 7-2 in the semifinals while winning gold at the Under-18 World Championship in 2015.

And he picked up two assists during a 4-2 win over Canada to open the World Juniors later that year.

Advertisement However, as he counts down the days to his first taste of top-tier international competition at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Tkachuk is preparing for a whole different animal when it comes to his countrys neighbor to the north.

I dont think they had Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby on those teams that I beat, Tkachuk told The Athletic this week.

So Im sure itll be definitely a different challenge.

For a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, not to mention an A on the chest of his Team USA sweater, the NHLs foray back into international hockey with the Feb.

12 to 20 tournament cant come soon enough.

In Tkachuks words, hes completely jacked about the brand-new event.

As a 1997-born, 2016-drafted player, hes among those who have fallen through the cracks while the NHL and the NHL Players Association consistently hit dead ends in trying to revamp the international calendar over the entirety of his professional career.

All Tkachuks done since last donning the stars and stripes is win a Stanley Cup and play more than 700 NHL games.

Ive been pretty upset with the last few events that have been canceled, or whatever, the last few years, he said.

When the 27-year-old forward closes his eyes now and reflects on the international hockey moments that helped shape his love of the game, it inevitably comes back to USA-Canada.

Tkachuk was 12 when he watched John Carlson score the Golden Goal for the Americans to beat Canada in Canada at the 2010 World Junior Championship when hockey was the greatest thing in the world, he says and that was a moment he recreated for months on end afterward in his St.

Louis driveway.

Hes even come to think fondly of the U.S.

victory in the 1996 World Cup tournament despite not yet being born when it was played.

His father, Keith, was part of the team that came back to beat Canada 2-1 in a best-of-three final, where the animosity between the teams was undeniable during games played with considerably more violence than is commonplace today.

Advertisement Whenever random times throughout the year theyre playing that (96 World Cup) on NHL Network, Im just in awe of what Canada and USA games used to be like in best on best, Tkachuk said.

For us to be able to play in that now, Im just super excited.

That U.S.-Canada rivalry is so big.

It doesnt get much better than playing them on a Saturday night in Montreal.

Its going to be amazing.

That game he referenced will be the second for both teams in the round-robin portion of the 4 Nations Face-Off and its part of a Feb.

15 doubleheader that will see Finland-Sweden play a Bell Centre matinee beforehand.

It is then when we should get a definitive answer as to how engaged the players will be for an in-season tournament with a limited field and no prior history although Tkachuk insists that question should be answered even sooner.

I can promise you the players will be engaged, he said.

This is not an All-Star Game, that is for sure.

When it comes time for the U.S.

to face Canada, it will mark a unique experience for Tkachuk since hell line up across from Panthers teammates Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart.

Bennett has been his most frequent linemate this season and appreciates the physical side of the sport every bit as much as Tkachuk does.

And Tkachuk has set up Reinhart for more than 30 goals in the past two-plus seasons alone.

Allegiances will have to be set aside in every game played during a 4 Nations tournament featuring eight members of the Panthers Aleksander Barkov will captain a Finnish team that includes Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola, while Gustav Forsling will represent Sweden but there doesnt seem to be much internal debate about who is most likely to set a physical tone among the friends.

Chucky for sure, said Barkov, without hesitation.

Hes not going to lay off from any hits.

Ive seen him from too close for a long time.

Advertisement Tkachuk didnt quibble with his teammates characterization, either.

This is bigger than most stuff you play in, said Tkachuk.

I know each (Florida) player, whether its the Canadians or myself on the U.S.

team or Forsy on Sweden or all the Finns, we take such great pride in playing for our country and representing our country that were going to do whatever it takes to win.

Thats just natural.

Youre best friends for 82-plus games during the season and unfortunately for these two weeks, the best team is going to be the one that has the bragging rights.

I know we all want to be on that best team.

He certainly likes his own chances.

In addition to the impressive array of talent USA Hockey has assembled for this 4 Nations tournament, Tkachuk believes theyll find an edge with so many of the players having passed through the U.S.

National Team Development Program on their way to the NHL.

The entire leadership group is comprised of former U.S.

NTDP teammates captain Auston Matthews, with Tkachuk and Charlie McAvoy as alternate captains and Tkachuk says theres next to no one on the roster he hasnt previously crossed paths with somewhere because of the close-knit nature of the American hockey community.

Among that 23-man group, he senses a strong desire to do something special for their country.

I just think theres going to be a ton of buy-in, Tkachuk said.

Theres going to be a ton of sacrifice.

I think youre going to see a team that is super, super tight and close.

Thats what being an Americans all about.

Thats what our team is going to be built on.

Theres a work ethic, but were going to have a ton of fun and play for the guy next to you even though they might be your biggest rival in the (NHL) regular season and playoffs.

Thats what youre going to see from us, and were going to have an unbelievable time doing it.

Scoring another win over Canada would be a pretty good place to start.

GO DEEPER Do NHL players care about the 4 Nations Face-Off? Here's what they said (Top photo: Robert Edwards / Imagn Images).

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