It appears that the feeling was mutual between Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel.
Immediately following puck drop on Saturday’s 4 Nations Face-Off match between USA and Canada, won 3-1 by the Americans, Tkachuk and Hagel threw their gloves to the ground and sparred with each other.
Their fight was the first of three in the opening nine seconds of the match.
During first intermission, Hagel and Matthew’s brother and team USA teammate, Brady, shared their reactions to the opening fights.
Brady got into a fight just moments following his brother, clashing with Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett.
“I think [Matthew’s fight] happened pretty organically,” Brady told ESPN after the first intermission. “Matthew said that he wanted to go first, it just happened and now it’s over and done with.”
“It’s right when Matthew found out the starting lineup, he said that he wanted a piece of him [Hagel].”
Hagel also opened up about his feelings regarding the opening fight and explained that Matthew asked for the tussle.
“I think I blacked out on it,” Hagel told Sportsnet during first intermission. “Trying to get some energy in the building, he asked, and I’m not backing down from him.”
“I think me and him have a pretty good history of going back and forth throughout the season,” Hagel added. “I thought potentially if we started together he was going to ask me — long time coming.”
Brady later mentioned the importance of keeping focus for the remainder of the game following the fights.
“It’s obviously an adrenaline rush,” Brady said. “But you have to carry that over into each shift now. It’s all about playing and doing whatever it takes to win.”
“It’s just another game right now. You have to block out all of the noise.”
