After conceding a goal to Switzerland, Brady Tkachuk sent a threatening message to the Swiss team. He also made fun of Canada, saying the USA team would advance to the next round to avenge their old feud…

During the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship, Brady Tkachuk, the standout forward for Team USA, made waves with a bold and controversial message aimed at Team Switzerland. After his team conceded a goal to Switzerland in the opening minutes of their match, Tkachuk’s response left fans, players, and pundits stunned.

The fiery forward did not hold back in his emotions, sending a pointed and threatening message to the Swiss team while also making a sharp jab at their archrivals, Team Canada.

The incident unfolded during a heated Group Stage match on May 12, 2025, when Switzerland struck first with an early goal. As the goal was scored by Swiss forward Damien Riat, Tkachuk, clearly frustrated by the early setback, turned to his teammates on the bench and sent an emotional response to the Swiss team. His words were audibly captured on the rink’s microphones, sparking immediate controversy.

In a chilling remark, Tkachuk declared, “You better watch out because we’re coming for you, and we’re going to make sure this ends in our favor.” His words were seen by many as an open challenge to Switzerland’s dominant play on the ice, making it clear that the United States was not going to be intimidated by the Swiss team’s early success.

But it didn’t end there. Tkachuk, known for his fiery personality both on and off the ice, added fuel to the fire with a bold statement aimed at Canada. “We’ll avenge everything,” he said, grinning as he threw a playful jab at their northern neighbors. “We’re going to beat Switzerland, and then we’ll march on to take down Canada. You guys just wait—Team USA is going all the way this year.”

This inflammatory comment caught the attention of both Canadian and Swiss players alike, adding yet another layer to the already heated rivalry between the United States and its neighbors. While some fans appreciated Tkachuk’s competitive spirit and unwavering confidence, others found his remarks to be unnecessarily provocative. Critics were quick to point out that Tkachuk’s focus should have been solely on the Swiss team, who were proving to be formidable opponents in the match.

Despite the tension created by Tkachuk’s remarks, the game continued with both teams putting up a fierce fight. Switzerland, riding high after their early goal, continued to press the Americans, while Tkachuk and his teammates struggled to break through the Swiss defense and goalkeeper Leonardo Genoni, who was having an incredible game.

As the match progressed, Tkachuk’s comments seemed to fuel his team, although the United States ultimately fell short in their pursuit of victory. Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t crack the Swiss defense, and Switzerland managed to maintain their lead throughout the game. The match ended 3-0 in favor of Switzerland, a disappointing result for Tkachuk and Team USA.

After the game, Tkachuk’s post-game interview made headlines. “We’ve got a lot of fight left in us. We’ve learned a lot from this game, and I stand by what I said. The next round is ours, and we’re not backing down from anyone,” Tkachuk declared, seemingly unfazed by the result.

The controversy surrounding Tkachuk’s words has sparked a firestorm of discussion among fans and analysts. Many are questioning whether such bold remarks will come back to haunt him and his teammates as they prepare for their next challenge. While the U.S. squad is still in contention to advance to the next stage, they will need to regroup and focus if they are to make good on Tkachuk’s promises.

As for Switzerland, they have undoubtedly made a statement with their dominant performance, shutting down a team that had been full of promise heading into the tournament. Their victory against Team USA has placed them firmly in the spotlight, but it’s clear that Tkachuk’s words have added extra fuel to an already intense rivalry that will continue to captivate fans as the tournament progresses.

With the next round looming, all eyes will be on Team USA as they attempt to bounce back from this loss and prove that Tkachuk’s bravado was more than just empty words. As the action heats up in the coming days, fans can only wonder if Brady Tkachuk’s fiery predictions will come true—or if they will be the catalyst for his team’s downfall.

Team USA star Brady Tkachuk hopes to realise “childhood dream” by winning ice hockey gold at Milano Cortina 2026

Ottawa Senators captain wants to end his country’s 46-year Olympic drought as he prepares to make his Games debut against Latvia on 12 February.

Picture by 2025 Getty Images

By David Coverdale3 February 2026 20:44 GMT+72 min read

Team USA star Brady Tkachuk admits it is his “childhood dream” to win gold at the Olympic Winter Games.

The Ottawa Senators captain is preparing to make his Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026, with the NHL sending its players to the Games for the first time since Sochi 2014.

The U.S. have not won men’s ice hockey gold since the “Miracle of Ice” victory at Lake Placid 1980 – but Tkachuk is determined to end his nation’s 46-year drought.

“All 12 nations want that gold medal,” the 26-year-old told NHL.com. “It’s been a childhood dream of, not just mine, but by every Olympian, that they want to come out with gold.

“All season, it’s been like, ‘February, it’s going to be Olympics’. I think it’s hard to not get so excited.

“I really believe in our team, really believe in the build and the makeup.”

Jake Sanderson on competing at Milano Cortina 2026: “It’s the top of the top”

Tkachuk previously captained the U.S. at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, where they finished fifth.

He also featured alongside his older brother Matthew Tkachuk in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, losing 3-2 to Canada in overtime in the final.

“That was Olympics-esque, just because I’ve never experienced it,” said Tkachuk.

“It just created that much more fire to win gold.”

Team USA get their Group C campaign underway against Latvia on 12 February, before matches with Denmark on 14 February and Germany on 15 February.

“It’s the top of the top,” added U.S. defenseman Jake Sanderson, who plays alongside Tkachuk with the Senators.

“I think all the players have been really looking forward to it. I’m sure everybody’s pretty fired up. I think everybody’s capable of winning.”