Sunday, February 22, 2026

Brady Tkachuk Ignites US-Canada Hockey Rivalry Ahead of 2026 Olympic Gold Medal Clash

Brady Tkachuk Fires Up US-Canada Hockey Rivalry Before 2026 Olympic Gold Medal Showdown

Posted by Marjorie on February 22, 2026

As the 2026 Winter Olympics heat up in Milan, all eyes are on the men's hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada. Team USA's captain, Brady Tkachuk, didn't hold back when talking about the intense rivalry between the two North American powerhouses. In a candid chat with reporters, he revealed the raw emotions fueling this matchup.

Brady Tkachuk walking onto the ice in Team USA jersey at the 2026 Olympics — Brady Tkachuk gears up for the big game against Canada. Credit: Fox News

Tkachuk, whose dad Keith was part of the last US team to beat Canada in a major tournament back in 1996, said there's real bad blood here. "Canada's been the king of the hill for years now," he explained. "We've got that envy mixed with a drive to knock them off their perch. It's going to be the toughest game most of us have ever played."

"There's hatred there." - Brady Tkachuk on the US-Canada rivalry

This shareable quote captures the spirit of the competition. Share it on X/Twitter with #USACanadaRivalry and tag influencers like @NHL or @ESPN for more buzz!

Looking back, the Americans came oh-so-close last year in the 4 Nations Face-Off, losing in overtime to Canada after a wild round-robin win that featured Tkachuk and his brother Matthew trading blows right off the bat. That heartbreak has only made the team hungrier. "We were one shot away," Tkachuk reflected. "Those tough losses build character, and we're ready to turn it around."

Split image of Brady Tkachuk in USA jersey and a Canadian player on the ice — The classic US vs. Canada matchup intensifies at the Olympics. Credit: Yahoo News Canada

Team USA is all in on "gold or bust" this time around. It's been 46 years since the Miracle on Ice in 1980, and with NHL stars back in the Olympics after missing the last two, the pressure is on. Hockey's exploded in popularity stateside, and players like Tkachuk want to showcase that growth globally.

Fresh off a world championship win last May—the first for the US men in over 90 years—many of those champs, including Clayton Keller and Jeremy Swayman, are suiting up again. And let's not forget the US women's team, who just clinched their third Olympic gold. As Vincent Trocheck put it, beating Canada would mean a clean sweep for American hockey.

Expect a bruising battle. While fighting gets you tossed in international play, the physicality will be off the charts. Canada's power play is lethal, boasting stars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. Sidney Crosby might even suit up despite a nagging injury.

Adding to the drama, the game falls on February 22—the anniversary of the 1980 upset against the Soviets. "It's the stuff dreams are made of," Trocheck said. "Best-on-best hockey for gold on the world stage."

For more in-depth analysis, check out the original story on ESPN. Also, dive deeper into NHL stats at NHL.com.

Mike Huckabee's Biblical Land Comments Spark Outrage in Arab World: Full Breakdown

By Kishwar Khan | February 22, 2026

I've been keeping tabs on US-Middle East relations for a long time, and the latest comments from Ambassador Mike Huckabee during his sit-down with Tucker Carlson really set off alarm bells across the region. In the interview that dropped recently, Carlson pressed Huckabee on a biblical interpretation from Genesis—where God promises Abraham's descendants land stretching from the Nile in Egypt to the Euphrates in Iraq and Syria. Huckabee's reply? “It would be fine if they took it all.” He later called it hyperbolic and clarified that Israel isn't actively seeking to expand, but the damage was done.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee speaking at the US Embassy in Jerusalem during an official event. (Credit: AP via Fortune)

The backlash came fast and furious. A joint statement from more than a dozen Arab and Islamic nations—plus heavy hitters like the Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Gulf Cooperation Council—branded the remarks “dangerous and inflammatory.” Countries like Saudi Arabia called them “reckless and irresponsible,” Jordan described it as an assault on sovereignty, and Egypt stressed that Israel has zero claim over occupied Palestinian or other Arab territories. Even allies voiced deep concern, warning that this kind of rhetoric threatens regional stability and peace efforts around Gaza.

From what I've seen in past diplomatic flare-ups, statements like this don't just fade away—they fuel distrust and complicate already fragile negotiations. Huckabee, with his long history as a vocal Christian Zionist and supporter of Israel, has always leaned into biblical framing for policy views. But dropping this in a high-profile interview right now feels particularly tone-deaf, especially as the US under Trump pushes for de-escalation in Gaza.

“It would be fine if they took it all.”
— Mike Huckabee responding to biblical land claims in Tucker Carlson interview.

Feel free to share this quote—it's sparking real conversations about faith, politics, and international boundaries.

Tucker Carlson in conversation with Mike Huckabee during their recent podcast interview. (Credit: Tucker Carlson Network / JPost)

Huckabee did try to walk it back a bit on social media and in follow-ups, emphasizing Israel's focus on security within current borders rather than massive expansion. Still, the joint condemnation from places like Türkiye, Qatar, UAE, and others highlights how seriously this is being taken. For anyone following global affairs, this underscores the ongoing tension between religious interpretations and modern international law.

Want reliable context? Here are some solid, authoritative reports:

If this topic resonates, check out a few of my earlier pieces on related US-Israel dynamics:

Ambassador Mike Huckabee presenting credentials in Israel, standing with officials against official backdrops. (Credit: US Embassy Jerusalem)

On X (Twitter), keep tabs on @TuckerCarlson, @GovMikeHuckabee, or regional accounts for any fresh reactions—threads are starting to pick up as people debate the biblical vs. legal angles. This one's far from over.

Post Labels & Social Promotion: #Qalamkaar #BreakingNews #CurrentEvents #NewsAnalysis #GlobalNews #Politics2026 #USPolitics #WorldNews #TrumpNews #CurrentAffairs #LatestNews #NewsToday #InDepthAnalysis #TruthBehindNews

Saturday, February 21, 2026

Genesis Invitational 2026: Rory McIlroy One Shot Back of Leaders Penge & Bridgeman

Rory swinging / main hero shot Alt text: Rory McIlroy tees off during round two of the 2026 Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club

Rory McIlroy’s strong 7-under 65 puts him just one stroke behind the leaders at -11

Genesis Invitational 2026: Rory McIlroy Closes In on Leaders Marco Penge & Jacob Bridgeman – Halfway Recap

Posted on February 22, 2026 | By Kishwar Khan | Qalamkaar Sports Analysis

The Genesis Invitational at the iconic Riviera Country Club is heating up, and world No. 2 Rory McIlroy is right in the mix. After a solid second-round 7-under 65, McIlroy sits at -11, just one stroke behind surprise co-leaders Marco Penge (England) and Jacob Bridgeman (USA), both at -12. This PGA Tour showcase is delivering drama, big names, and plenty of birdies as we head into the weekend.

Rory McIlroy in action during the Genesis Invitational – chasing the lead at Riviera Country Club (Getty Images)

Round Two Leaderboard Highlights

After weather delays pushed some players to complete 27 holes in a single day, the top of the board looks like this:

-12: Marco Penge (Eng), Jacob Bridgeman (US)
-11: Rory McIlroy (NI)
-9: Adam Scott (Aus), Xander Schauffele (US)
-8: Min Woo Lee (Aus), Paul Greyserman (US)
-7: Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Wyndham Clark (US), and others

Notably, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler scraped into the weekend at even par after a tense par save on the final hole. Defending champions and big names like Jordan Spieth (-5) and Rickie Fowler (-2) are still in the hunt but face an uphill battle.

Standout Performances & Stories

Marco Penge's second-round 64 was electric – five birdies in his last seven holes despite the pressure of a heavily pregnant wife back home and recent family moves. He called it "a bit of a gamble" but showed incredible focus. McIlroy, coming off a tough week at Pebble Beach, loved Riviera's more forgiving setup: "There's no Pacific Ocean to hit it into around this golf course, so that helps."

Scottie Scheffler lines up a putt – the world No. 1 made the cut on the number at Riviera

“It's been quite tough the last four weeks for me and my family... She's been in the US on her own, heavily pregnant, looking after a one-and-a-half-year old... It's been like a bit of a gamble.” — Marco Penge on balancing family and elite golf

Influencer Threads & Expert Takes

Golf Twitter is buzzing. Check these sharp breakdowns:

Golf Channel's live leaderboard thread – real-time updates and reactions.
@PGATOUR official thread – highlights, stats, and player quotes from round two.

Follow the conversation with #GenesisInvitational #RoryMcIlroy #PGATour for the latest fan and analyst insights.

Trophy moments at major PGA events – who will lift the Genesis trophy this weekend?

More Golf & Sports Reads from Qalamkaar

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