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.

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.”