Brady Tkachuk: 'Hatred' between Canada, USA

American forward Brady Tkachuk isn't downplaying the rivalry between Canada and the United States as the two hockey juggernauts prepare to play one another for a gold medal in Milan Cortina.

"There's hatred there," Tkachuk told ESPN's Emily Kaplan. "I mean, they've been the top dog. They've been the best for the last bunch of years, and for us, we want to be in that position, be the best. So it's going to be a game where I think a lot of guys could say, this is the biggest game that they've ever played in."

Canada and the USA have clashed six times since the Olympics introduced NHLers in 1998. Canada has won five of those meetings, including two gold-medal games.

The rivals also met in last year's 4 Nations Face-Off final, where Canada won in overtime.

"I mean, we were one shot away last year, and sometimes you got to go through that adversity, that sadness, those tough times for the good times to feel even better," Tkachuk said. "It was definitely a tough couple days, couple weeks, months after that game. And I know I don't want to feel like that ever again."

Tkachuk was a central figure at the 4 Nations, scoring in the final and participating in one of three opening fights during the round-robin clash between the two countries.

The Ottawa Senators captain has registered three goals and two assists in five Olympic contests.

Both Canada and the United States are undefeated at the tournament. The U.S. bested Canada in overtime in the women's gold-medal game on Thursday.