Canada clinched the championship at the 4 Nations Face-Off by defeating the United States in a thrilling overtime match, highlighted by Connor McDavid’s spectacular goal that is sure to be remembered for years to come.
In a broader perspective, the event served as a victory for the NHL, its athletes, and the sport of hockey overall.
The 4 Nations tournament, a standalone event without past precedents or future iterations, was a compact version of a World Cup of Hockey held to satisfy a long-standing desire among the world’s top players for high-stakes competition. With tens of millions tuning in from across North America, the tournament surpassed all expectations, with the caliber of play resembling that of Stanley Cup Finals or Olympic games rather than the traditional All-Star festivities it replaced.
“It gained more popularity than we ever anticipated—there was a tremendous amount of interest across the continent,” said Nathan MacKinnon, named MVP of the 4 Nations. “The event really took off. I think everyone was uncertain about what to expect, especially with comparisons to an All-Star Game. People didn’t know the players’ mindsets going into it. But it was clear that players took the competition seriously while representing their countries.”
For many players, including McDavid, MacKinnon, and American stars like Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel, this was a pivotal opportunity as they had not previously participated in professional best-on-best play. Fans caught on quickly, especially after witnessing Sidney Crosby’s stunning no-look assist to MacKinnon just 56 seconds into the opening game against Sweden, which set a rapid tone for the competition.
Viewership was impressive; while U.S. ratings for the final are awaited, reports indicate that 10.7 million viewers in Canada tuned in for the championship game, accounting for over 25% of the country’s population. The round-robin games averaged 4.6 million viewers throughout North America, while an impressive 10.1 million watched the first match between the U.S. and Canada.
In a series of social media reactions, former NFL star J.J. Watt praised the event, highlighting its success. He mentioned that even friends unfamiliar with hockey reached out about watching the tournament, remarking, “This is a definition of growing the game. The players poured so much effort, energy, and passion into this tournament. That’s what made it exceptional—seeing the best compete for pure pride.”
The next opportunity for these players to showcase their talents will arrive at the 2026 Olympics in Milan, marking a return of NHL players after the league opted out in 2018 and withdrew last-minute in 2022 due to pandemic-related scheduling conflicts.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman characterized the 4 Nations, featuring teams from the U.S., Canada, Sweden, and Finland, as a precursor for the Olympics. The level of competition and Canada’s victory set the stage for the American team to challenge Canada’s hockey dominance, alongside teams from Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, and potentially Russia for Olympic glory.
“I’ll hold onto this feeling as we look towards next year,” stated Brady Tkachuk, a winger for Team USA, reflecting on their narrow 3-2 loss in the final. “Things happen for a reason, and I feel this experience can really drive us as we prepare for next year.”
As it stands, Canada has maintained an undefeated streak for the past 15 years in tournaments featuring the NHL’s best players, now totaling four consecutive victories that include their titles from the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and gold medals from the Olympics in 2010 and 2014.
Crosby has been a key figure in this success, also representing Canada at an unbeaten run in the 2015 world championships, and he played through an injury in this tournament due to its significance.
“Every time you get to wear the Canadian jersey in a competitive setting, it feels special,” Crosby stated. “The display of hockey over these days was incredible. I’m proud of this group—we came together quickly and found a way to succeed.”
Leading up to the final, Canada’s coach Jon Cooper emphasized to anyone expecting an All-Star Game atmosphere that they would be “sorely mistaken.” While the participants were indeed All-Stars, the nature of the competition felt far from it.
Even before the Canadian players and coaches received their gold medals and trophy, it was evident that the event, coordinated over more than a year, had attracted a new audience to both the NHL and the sport of hockey beyond what anyone had foreseen.
“I hope we gained some new fans,” McDavid expressed. “It’s a fantastic game and sport. I trust we delivered an excellent show over the last few days and won over some hearts.”
