The drama unfolded at the Montreal Bell Centre with just two seconds into the first period. It was Canada’s Brandon Hagel and Team USA’s Matthew Tkachuk who let their helmets and sticks go away and let their fists do the talking. The whole crowd screamed in excitement, as this was the rivalry they were expecting after all the controversy that happened a few days ago.
Both of the teams secured one goal, with the scoreboard being 1-1 at the end of the first period. And this gave Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas the chance to grab an interview with Hagel. Talking to the rinkside host, the Canadian forward shared his thoughts on the fight, stating, “Yeah, I mean, I think I blacked out on it. But, yeah, I think just trying to get some energy in the building, he asked, and I’m not backing down from him.”
Kyle made a fair point, as the world is way out of the “Gladiator era,” but it’s hockey. With the rivalry that Canada and the United States have, along with other factors like the anthem controversy, this fight was bound to happen. Brandon Hagel wanted to bring in some drama on the rink, as he wasn’t going to let go of Matthew Tkachuk.
The Canadian forward also highlighted the history that the two have, saying, “I think me and him have a pretty good history just going back and forth throughout the season. So I thought potentially if we started together, he was going to ask me, and a long time coming.” Yes, the rivalry that they have is gold. Hagel wasn’t complaining, and he knew that they would engage with each other right after the game started.
“I’m not backing down from him.”
Brandon Hagel speaks with @sportsnetkyle about his fight with Matthew Tkachuk and how he thought the first period went. #4Nations pic.twitter.com/0Q3FmjSrWu
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 16, 2025
This is a developing report…
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