Brady Tkachuk takes another shot at Canadian crowds while discussing how fans treat him
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Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk breaks down the Canadian arenas that boo him hardest, and he says he loves every second of it.
Brady Tkachuk has never been shy about embracing his role as one of the NHL's most disliked visitors north of the border, and he recently laid out exactly which Canadian crowds give him the roughest treatment.
Speaking candidly about his experiences around the league, the Senators captain ranked the arenas from most to least hostile, and the results might surprise casual fans who assume Edmonton or Calgary would top the list.
Toronto tops the list
According to Tkachuk, Toronto stands alone as the loudest and most aggressive building he plays in.
He pointed to a moment after a scrum when he was shown on the Jumbotron and the entire arena erupted in boos.
He even admitted he considered doing something outrageous in response before deciding against it, not wanting to put anyone else in an awkward spot.
That kind of restraint says something about how intense the moment actually was.
"Toronto was the loudest boo because it was after a scrum, and they had me on the Jumbotron, and everybody was booing me"
"And I was so close to doing something outrageous... I was going to do something outrageous, but I was like, 'Nah, I don't want to put anybody in a bad spot'".
"Second, I'm going to go with Edmonton... they were giving it to me pretty good, and I got a penalty in overtime".
"Third was Calgary. Just every time I touched the puck, they were giving it to me".
"I love getting booed. I think it's so funny, it's great. It means you're doing something right".
- Brady Tkachuk
"And I was so close to doing something outrageous... I was going to do something outrageous, but I was like, 'Nah, I don't want to put anybody in a bad spot'".
"Second, I'm going to go with Edmonton... they were giving it to me pretty good, and I got a penalty in overtime".
"Third was Calgary. Just every time I touched the puck, they were giving it to me".
"I love getting booed. I think it's so funny, it's great. It means you're doing something right".
- Brady Tkachuk
Calgary and Edmonton also bring it
Edmonton landed at number two on his list, with Tkachuk recalling how relentless the crowd got during a game that ended with him taking an overtime penalty.
Calgary rounded out the top three, where he said fans seemed to boo him every single time he touched the puck, regardless of what was happening on the ice.
Rather than let the reaction get under his skin, Tkachuk insists he genuinely enjoys it.
He views the boos as a sign that he is playing the kind of physical, irritating style that gets under opponents' skin and into fans' heads.
For a player who has built his reputation on being a nuisance to opposing teams, hearing an entire building turn against him is less an insult and more a badge of honor.
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