Former Canuck J.T. Miller & Tkachuk Brothers Allegedly Arranged Fights Before Clash with Canada
Photo credit: Daily Faceoff
Former Vancouver Canuck J.T. Miller and the Tkachuk brothers, Matthew and Brady, reportedly planned they were going to fight ahead of the US' game against Canada on Saturday night.
Saturday night, Canada and the United States met at for the first time at best-on-best since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and it did not disappoint, with three fights in the first nine seconds, including former Canuck J.T. Miller who dropped the mitts with Colton Parayko.
Saturday's fights vs Canada reportedly planned by J.T. Miller & Tkachuk brothers
Following the game, where the United States won 3-1, several members of the American team met with reporters to discuss the game and understandably, the fights to start things off were something on everyone's mind.
J.T. Miller said post-game that it was fun to be apart of and that they respect the Canadian squad, despite there being bad blood.
"That was pretty fun. That was the coolest experience I've probably had on the ice, one of them. To hear the building like that, it's something you'll never forget. There's a lot of bad blood, but at the same time, tons of respect for the other team." Miller said according to Mollie Walker of the New York Post.
During their media availability, Brady Tkachuk said that there was a group chat going on throughout Saturday where himself, his brother Matthew and J.T. Miller agreed they'd be dropping the mitts.
"We had a little discussion earlier in the day," Brady said.
Matthew chimed in by saying, "Tell them the truth,"
Brady added, "There was a group chat going on today. Still something [inaudible].We just reaffirmed we are gonna do that. I think Matthew's fight to start off was such an energy boost. I was more excited and more nervous than my own and Miller's to cap it off to go against a big guy like that, I think he did a great job. I think it was pretty awesome to us."
Matthew chimed in by saying, "Tell them the truth,"
Brady added, "There was a group chat going on today. Still something [inaudible].We just reaffirmed we are gonna do that. I think Matthew's fight to start off was such an energy boost. I was more excited and more nervous than my own and Miller's to cap it off to go against a big guy like that, I think he did a great job. I think it was pretty awesome to us."
The fights fired up the crowd at the Bell Centre in Montreal, with Canada opening the scoring less than five minutes into the first period thanks to Connor McDavid.
However, the US would score three unanswered to take the game and book their spot in the championship game on Thursday night.
With the loss, Canada needed a regulation win this afternoon against Finland to confirm their spot in the final and they did just that, defeating the Finns 5-3, with Nathan MacKinnon scoring a pair.
Puck drop for Thursday's championship game between Canada and the United States at TD Garden in Boston is set for 5 pm PT (8pm local) and can be watched across the nation on Sportsnet.
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