For the first time in fifteen years, the USA and Canada teams played against each other in the Four Nations Face-Off hockey tournament that included the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden. These countries faced off in a round robin style event where each record determined seeding for the semifinals.
Down to the USA and Canada, they played two games, one in the round robin and one in the championship, to decide which country is the superior hockey player.
The two teams faced off for the first time on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the famous Bell Centre hockey arena in Montreal, where 21,105 hockey fans gathered to see the first of two matches between veteran rivals.
According to ESPN News, at its peak, this hockey game garnered 5.4 million American viewers and attracted attention due to the Canadians booing during the American national anthem. This was expected by some, given the tariffs put in place by President Donald Trump and references to Canada as the 51st state.
It was clear that this game went beyond the ice for both President Trump and Prime Minister Trudeau.
“Given the recent climate, it is reasonable for Canadians to be upset,” Rosco Williamson, Point Loma Nazarene University political science professor, said.
Hockey has been a staple of Canadian culture, tradition and history since the beginning of the 19th century. Williamson emphasized the fact that Canadians are extremely proud of their country, especially hockey. He illustrated that just as we are proud to be Americans, they are equally proud to be Canadians.
Country pride for both the Americans and the Canadians was in full effect before these two teams faced off on the ice. Given the recent geopolitical climate surrounding both Canada and the U.S., tensions were high inside and outside of the stadium.
This tension seemed to follow the players onto the ice as the first match kicked off with a bang.
Jesper Bratt, a Swedish hockey player for the New Jersey Devils, told ESPN, “I knew it was going to be an electric start, but I maybe didn’t expect three fights in the first nine seconds.”
The ferocity on the ice was palpable.
Seconds after the puck dropped onto the ice, signifying the start of the game, USA’s Tkachuk brothers quite literally swung into action. Matthew Tkachuk immediately dropped his gloves, challenging Canada’s Brandon Hagel to a fight, where they swung it out at center ice. Almost immediately following this, Brady Tkachuk exchanged haymakers with Canada’s Sam Bennett.
After one successful play on the ice, the third fight broke out between USA’s JT Miller and Canada’s Colton Parayko, ending with the two being separated after hefty punches were thrown. The energy in the arena was intense as fans screamed, cheered and booed at the onslaught.
10 minutes after this, Canada was able to score through Connor McDavid, making it 1-0 in favor of Canada with a fast rush on the goal and a precise shot, securing the first point in the game. In between this goal and the next, quick strategic plays and heavy hits sent players into walls and sprawling onto the ice.
Jake Guentzel, from Team USA, tied the game with a smooth shot just past Canada’s defenders, marking the end of the first period. Late into the second period, USA’s Dylan Larkin, with assistance from Matt Boldy, broke the tie, giving the USA the lead at 2-1 with a clean shot.
As the game drew to a close with the USA in the lead, Guentzel received the puck from Larkin’s efficient pass. Making a deft shot on an empty net, Guentzel created a two-goal lead with less than two minutes remaining, drawing a close to the first tumultuous match of two.
“It’s well-known in the hockey world that sometimes, players will engage in fights for fun and to get the crowd on their feet – not necessarily because of bad blood,” Bjorn Labrum, a third-year psychology major and president of the PLNU Hockey Club, said. “I respect the work ethic of Team Canada and their guts and abilities. I feel that Americans winning in any national sport makes the whole country proud.”
According to Sporting News, fighting is banned in international and European leagues, but the minimal consequences in American hockey make it effectively legal. It has been a large tradition in the game of hockey and is notably entertaining for fans.
The Feb. 15 hockey game made viewership records, with 10.1 million viewers collectively in the U.S. and Canada.
“The spotlight was so heavy on the game I can imagine it led to some players wanting to have a bit of a scrum. … It’s hockey,” Labrum said. “It’s so deeply embedded in the hockey culture it would be a real shame if they didn’t allow them [to fight].”
After the initial USA victory, before the final match, Vice President JD Vance joked, “To Canada, if you guys don’t win, the tariffs are even higher.”
Going into the final match, it was clear both countries were willing to do whatever it took to secure the win.
As a former resident of Canada, Keith Pedersen, PLNU professor of music, knows just how much hockey means to the country.
“Hockey and country pride go hand in hand in Canada,” Pedersen said. “For Canadians, events like the Hockey’s 4 Nation Face-Off are the equivalent of the Super Bowl here in America.”
Pedersen was never a big fan of the fighting and violence attached to the sport.
“I did not appreciate the violence in the beginning as I want to watch the best of the best just play hockey,” he said. “I appreciate the effort and tenacity put forward by both sides.”
The final match led to an overtime bout where Canada defeated the USA in a 3-2 match to win the Four Nations Face-Off on Feb. 20, 2025. Regarded by Pedersen as the greatest hockey player on the ice today, Canada’s Connor McDavid scored the game-winning goal.
To open the match, Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon scored the first goal, followed by USA’s Brady Tkachuk, who scored at the end of the first period of the match. In the second period, both teams were able to score a goal; with USA’s Jake Sanderson and Canada’s Sam Bennett both being able to secure a goal, leaving the game at an even 2-2 at the end of the second period. A little over eight minutes into overtime, with assistance from Mitch Marner, McDavid was able to end the best-on-best tournament.
This victory cemented Canada’s dominance in the world of hockey, as they have not lost a best-on-best hockey tournament since the 2010 Olympics.
After the victory, Prime Minister Trudeau posted on X, “You can’t take our country – and you can’t take our game.”
Pedersen said hockey is integral to Canadian culture and tradition. The pride for the country of Canada goes hand in hand with pride in hockey.
“It is almost a right of passage for a Canadian to play hockey,” Pedersen said. “You can take the Canadian out of Canada, but you can never take the hockey out of a Canadian.”
Cade Michaelson