Olympics Has ‘Family Affair’ Feel for US Men’s Hockey Team

What an amazing Olympic hockey history exists with the 2026 Team USA squad.

On Thursday, men’s ice hockey jumps into gear in Italy, as all four teams in each group will begin playing the first of three scheduled preliminary games within their groups. Teams from the United States, Latvia, Germany, and Denmark are in Group C, with all games played at either the Santagiulia Arena or Rho Arena.

On Feb. 12, the Americans are skating against Team Latvia (3:10 p.m. ET, USA Network).

Following the opening game, on Feb. 14 it will be Team USA and Team Denmark battling it out on the ice. The final warmup game will be on Feb. 15 between Team USA and Team Germany. After the preliminary schedule, all 12 teams will begin competing in the single-elimination playoff tournament.

The gold medal game will take place on Feb. 22, which is also the day of the Winter Games’ closing ceremonies.

Team USA, compiled of all NHL players, has some interesting twists in its pursuit of a gold medal.

Brothers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, along with teammate Brock Nelson, boast an impressive Olympic hockey lineage. Center Brock Nelson, like the Tkachuks, is appearing in his first Olympic hockey tournament.

In fact, other than Jake Sanderson and Brock Faber, who while in college appeared for Team USA hockey at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, the 23 other team members are making their Olympic debut in 2026.

The family hockey history of these skaters and their medals is fascinating the further one digs.

Nelson, now in his 14th NHL season, traces his family’s Olympic hockey legacy to three medals, all gold. Brothers Bill and Roger Christian were members of the 196o Team USA that won gold at Squaw Valley, California—now known as Palisades Tahoe. The Christians led Team USA past Czechoslovakia, 9–4, en route to a perfect 7–0 record. Bill Christian, 88, is Nelson’s grandfather, and Roger Christian is his great uncle. But wait, there’s more to the Nelson–Christian Olympic connection.

Dave Christian, Bill’s son, was part of the “Miracle on Ice” Team USA pairing that defeated the heavily favored Soviet Union, 4–3, in the first medal round game of the 1980 Winter Games held in Lake Placid. In the gold medal round, Team USA defeated Finland 4–2. Nelson is Dave Christian’s nephew.

Nelson is anxious for the opportunity to add to his family legacy in Milan Cortina.

“My uncle’s going over for a bit of it. My grandpa is super emotional, which is a fun conversation to be part of. Big supporter and big fan for me,” Nelson told Mile High Sports on Monday. “He tracks each and every game here [in Denver] and sends me good luck texts every game. It means the world to him. I never thought of him anything more [than] grandpa. But obviously, he wrote some history himself, being a part of the ’60 team with his brother.”

The Tkachuk brothers are also hoping to add a couple gold Olympic hockey medals to the “family business.” Keith Tkachuk, Matthew and Brady’s father, participated in four different Winter Games for Team USA hockey: 1992, 1998, 2002, and 2006. Retired from the NHL since 2010 after 18 seasons with four teams, Keith Tkachuk in 2002 claimed a silver medal at the Winter Games held in Salt Lake City. Team USA took a 5–2 loss from gold-winning Team Canada.

Along with the Tkachuk brothers and Nelson’s connection to Team USA royalty, there is a second set of brothers wearing the USA jersey at Milan Cortina. Jack and Quinn Hughes, both highly successful former top NHL draft picks (2028 and 2019), are one of seven brother combinations that have skated for Team USA Olympic. Jack Hughes missed the New Jersey Devils’ final three games before the Olympic break with a lower-body injury, but is now in Milan.

The Hughes boys were supposed to be teammates for last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off for the United States club. However, Quinn Hughes missed the tournament due to an injury. Now, the Olympics brings them together.

“I mean, injuries are tough,” Quinn recently told NHL.com. “You just want him healthy and want him to, you know, be at his best.”

A combination of familiarity and confidence, along with excellent execution on the ice, should propel Team USA to a showdown on Feb. 22 with Team Canada for the gold medal. The Tkachuks and Nelson, along with grinding play contributed by the Hughes twosome, should avenge the 2002 Team USA loss and the agony of defeat experienced by Keith Tkachuk.

When the Olympics are completed, either way the puck bounces, there are sure to be some very interesting conversations at upcoming family dinners for at least five members of the 2026 Team USA roster.