GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (FEB. 20)

The game everybody wanted is the game everybody got. The 2025 4 Nations Face-Off comes to a close Thursday night at TD Garden in Boston when Canada takes on the United States in the championship game.

Last Game

Canada punched its ticket to the final with a 5-3 win over Finland in its preliminary-round finale on Monday afternoon. Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon scored 46 seconds apart early in the first period, Brayden Point added a goal before the end of the opening frame and the Canadians looked to be on their way with a four-goal lead after 40 minutes, but the Finns made it interesting late, cutting the deficit to a single goal before Sidney Crosby found the empty net in the final minute.

With their place in the finale secure before the puck dropped, the Americans rested a couple of key pieces in what finished as a 2-1 loss to Sweden on Monday night. Chris Kreider, the oldest player on the U.S. roster, scored just 35 seconds into his tournament debut, but that would be all the offence the home country could muster despite directing 33 shots towards Samuel Ersson.

Last Meeting

Need we remind anyone? The North American rivals clashed Saturday night in Montreal, in a prelim game that not only lived up to the pre-game hype, but surpassed it. Three fights in the opening nine seconds set an emotional tone and McDavid ignited the Bell Centre crowd with a beautiful goal less than six minutes in, but the U.S. would rally for a 3-1 victory to ensure itself a spot in the championship game.

What to Watch

Really, at this point what you need to watch is the game and everybody involved in it. This is going to be one to remember. But if we need to be picky… let’s turn our attention to the reigning Hart Trophy winner. MacKinnon earned Player of the Game honours against the Finns thanks to his two-goal effort, and his Cole Harbour connection with Crosby will be key to Canada’s chances. MacKinnon has been tearing up the NHL, going into the international break with a league-leading 87 points (19-66—87). (Those 66 assists, by the way, also pace all NHLers.) Although it’s been almost eight years since he last wore the Maple Leaf (at the 2017 IIHF World Championship), MacKinnon is no stranger to international hockey; his résumé included 22 goals and 52 points in 49 games for his country prior to the tournament.

The Americans have an NHL league-leader of their own, and he plays between the pipes. Connor Hellebuyck is arguably the best goaltender in the world, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner who has his sights set on another. He tops all puck-stoppers in goals-against average (2.06), save percentage (.925), shutouts (6) and wins (34), backstopping the Winnipeg Jets to the top of the NHL standings. And the 31-year-old has been just as good at the 4 Nations Face-Off, winning both his starts while allowing just a single goal in each, turning aside 45 of 47 shots in victories over Finland and Canada. But just like the Canadians, feel free to let your focus wander to any number of players – Auston Matthews, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk … there’s really no wrong answer.

A Look Back

One of international hockey’s greatest rivalries, the Canadians and Americans have met 20 times in best-on-best tournaments since the 1976 Canada Cup, with Canada holding a 14-5-1 advantage.

This will be the fifth time the rivals will clash in a tournament finale; Canada swept the best-of-three final in the 1991 Canada Cup, only for the U.S. to get that win back in a three-game thriller in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. And, of course, they have met in a pair of Olympic gold medal games – in 2002, when Canada ended a 50-year drought, and the 2010 instant classic in Vancouver that ended with Crosby’s iconic Golden Goal.

All-time record: Canada leads 14-5-1 (2-0 in OT)
Canada goals: 71
United States goals: 32

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. FINLAND (FEB. 17)

It’s do-or-die time as the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off shifts to Boston; Canada faces off against Finland in its preliminary-round finale Monday afternoon, needing a win to keep its chances of playing for the championship alive.

Last Game

Canada closed out the Montreal leg of the tournament with an emotion-filled 3-1 loss to the United States on Saturday night. After three fights in the first nine seconds, Connor McDavid opened the scoring at the 5:31 mark, firing up an already energized crowd at the Bell Centre. But that would be it for offence for the Canadians, who lost a best-on-best game for the first time since a prelim loss to the Americans at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

The Finns bounced back from their own loss to the U.S. by edging their Nordic rivals from Sweden 4-3 in overtime in a Saturday matinee. Mikael Granlund provided the heroics just 1:49 into the extra period, keeping Finland in the running for a spot in the final opposite the U.S.

Last Meeting

Canada and Finland have been frequent foes at the IIHF World Championship, clashing most recently in the preliminary round at the 2024 tournament last spring in Prague. Owen Power sparked the offence with a goal and two assists, Dylan Cozens added a goal and a helper and Jordan Binnington made 29 saves to help the Canadians to a 5-3 win.

The most recent best-on-best matchup came in the prelim finale at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. With both teams already assured of a place in the playoff round, Drew Doughty ended a defensive battle with his second goal of the game 2:32 into overtime, giving Canada a 2-1 win and first place in Group B.

What to Watch

While much of the attention has fallen to Sidney Crosby and his international exploits (and to be clear, that attention is VERY MUCH warranted) or his connection with Nathan MacKinnon, a fellow Nova Scotian, it’s almost as if McDavid has somewhat slid under the radar. Which is crazy to say about a player who has been a finalist for the Hart Trophy four consecutive seasons – winning twice – and has averaged 136 points over the last three years. But the Edmonton Oilers superstar burst back into the spotlight on Saturday, streaking through the Americans with a top speed of 36.5 mph to open the scoring. McDavid has been no slouch internationally across his career; he has recorded 55 points (15-40—55) in 41 games wearing the Maple Leaf, winning gold medals at Men’s Worlds, World Juniors and U18 Men’s Worlds.

What a year it’s been for Aleksander Barkov. The Finnish captain is eight months removed from captaining the Florida Panthers to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship, averaging almost a point per game in the playoffs (8-14—22 in 24 games). The 29-year-old is on pace for his fifth-straight point-per-game season (and the only two seasons he didn’t reach that mark across the last eight, he was 78 in 79 and 62 in 66), and he has the Panthers back atop a competitive Atlantic Division with the sixth-most points in the NHL at the international break. Almost it has been almost nine years since he last wore the blue and white of his country, Barkov is no stranger to international hockey; his résumé includes a U18 Men’s Worlds, two World Juniors, two Men’s Worlds, one Olympics and a World Cup of Hockey.

Championship Scenarios

The U.S. has booked its place in the final on Thursday night, but the Canadians, Finns and Swedes all sit at two points and have championship game aspirations.

A regulation win for either Canada or Finland will see them advance to face the Americans, while Sweden will need an overtime finish in the early game Monday and a regulation win over the U.S.

A Look Back

Despite being long-time international rivals, Canada and Finland have met only nine times in best-on-best competition since the 1976 Canada Cup, with the Canadians claiming victory in six of those meetings.

The highlight came at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, when the nations clashed in the final. A back-and-forth game saw the Finns twice erase Canadian leads before Shane Doan netted the game-winner 34 seconds into the third period, giving Canada a 3-2 victory and the World Cup title.

All-time record: Canada leads 6-2-1 (1-0 in OT)
Canada goals: 35
Finland goals: 14

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (FEB. 15)

While every preliminary-round game is important in a short tournament, this one just seems a little more special – Canada takes on the United States in the marquee prelim matchup on Saturday night at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.

Last Game

Canada opened the tournament with an absolute barn-burner on Wednesday night, getting an overtime winner from Mitch Marner to earn a 4-3 victory over Sweden in front of a raucous crowd at the Bell Centre. Sidney Crosby picked up three primary assists (and improved to 26-0 in his last 26 international games), while Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand and Mark Stone joined Marner as goal scorers.

The Americans turned it on late in their opener against Finland on Thursday, scoring four goals in a span of 5:56 across the second and third periods to beat the Finns 6-1. Brady and Matthew Tkachuk scored two goals each, with Matthew and Jake Guentzel netting 11 seconds apart in the opening minute of the final frame to extend the U.S. lead from one to three before most fans were back in their seats.

Last Meeting

The Canadians and Americans last clashed in the semifinals at the 2021 IIHF World Championship in Riga, Latvia. Darcy Kuemper starred between the pipes for Canada, making 36 saves, Andrew Mangiapane scored a pair of goals to bolster his case for MVP honours and the Canadians – who started the tournament with three-straight losses – downed their cross-border rivals 4-2 en route to an unlikely 27th world title.

The most recent best-on-best matchup came in the semifinals of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, a narrow 1-0 win for Canada. Jamie Benn scored the game’s only goal 1:41 into the second period and Carey Price made it stand up with a 31-save shutout, backstopping Canada into another Olympic gold medal game (where he’d add another clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Sweden).

What to Watch

The exploits of Canada’s big guns up front have been well-documented, so let’s turn our attention to the blue line. The loss of Shea Theodore for the tournament with an upper-body injury has opened the door for Travis Sanheim, who will draw into the lineup against the U.S. But the native of Elkhorn, Manitoba (the smallest hometown on the Canadian roster with just 455 residents, according to the 2021 Census) is not your average seventh defenceman. Sanheim plays 24:34 a night with the Philadelphia Flyers, 14th among NHL defencemen, sits seventh among all NHLers with 126 blocked shots and is fast – which comes in handy in a tournament like this. NHL Edge data has the 28-year-old in the 97th percentile among defencemen with 93 bursts above the league average of 32 kph.

The Tkachuk brothers are continuing the proud familiy tradition of international excellence started by their father, Keith. The elder Tkachuk represented the U.S. at two World Juniors (1991, 1992), two World Cups (1996, 2004) and four Olympics (1992, 1998, 2002, 2006), winning a World Cup title in 1996 and Olympic silver in 2002. Now Brady and Matthew are getting their first taste of best-on-best competition, having already accumulated 36 games of Team USA experience at the U18 Men’s Worlds, World Juniors and Men’s Worlds. And watch out for Zach Werenski; the blue-liner – who recorded three assists against the Finns – is enjoying a career year for the Columbus Blue Jackets, ranking second among NHL rearguards in goals (17) and points (59) while playing a league-leading 26:53 per game.

A Look Back

One of international hockey’s greatest rivalries, the Canadians and Americans have met 19 times in best-on-best tournaments since the 1976 Canada Cup, with Canada holding a 14-4-1 advantage.

A number of those meetings have come in tournament finales; Canada swept the best-of-three final in the 1991 Canada Cup, only for the U.S. to get that win back in a three-game thriller in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. And, of course, the North American rivals have met in a pair of Olympic gold medal games – in 2002, when Canada ended a 50-year drought, and the 2010 instant classic in Vancouver that ended with Crosby’s iconic Golden Goal.

All-time record: Canada leads 14-4-1 (2-0 in OT)
Canada goals: 70
United States goals: 29

The day has come. After almost nine years, best-on-best competition returns as Canada opens up the 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden in Montreal.

The day has finally come. Almost nine years after the last best-on-best tournament – the 2016 World Cup of Hockey – Canada opens up the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Last Meeting

The last time the Canadians and Swedes met in any senior men’s competition was the bronze medal game at the 2024 IIHF World Championship last spring in Prague. Dylan Cozens and Pierre-Luc Dubois gave Canada a 2-1 lead early in the third period, but three unanswered goals in the final 10:25 were enough for Sweden to earn a 4-2 win.

For the last time the long-time international rivals met in best-on-best competition (and we’re including Canada Cups, World Cups and Olympics with NHLers in that category), you have to go back to the gold medal game at the 2014 Games in Sochi. Jonathan Toews opened the scoring (just as he had in the 2010 gold medal game), Sidney Crosby closed the scoring (just as he had in the 2010 gold medal game) and Carey Price made 24 saves for the shutout as Canada claimed another Olympic gold with a 3-0 win.

What to Watch

Have you seen the Canadian roster? You think we can pick just one player? More than 13,000 NHL games. More than 10,000 points. Twenty Stanley Cup championships. Thirty-three individual NHL honours. But alright, let’s focus on one – how about arguably the greatest leader in Canadian hockey history with the ‘C’ on his chest? Crosby has tallied 67 points (32-35—67) in 54 international games, winning two Olympic gold medals, one each at Men’s Worlds and World Juniors, and a World Cup title. He is the only player in the IIHF Triple Gold Club to win all three legs as captain – Olympic gold, IIHF World Championship gold and the Stanley Cup. Remarkably, it has been almost 22 years since the pride of Cole Harbour first donned the Maple Leaf, as a 15-year-old at the 2003 U18 World Cup. Crosby is still a force to be reckoned with in his 20th NHL season; he has recorded 58 points (17-41—58) in 55 games, on pace to finish as a point-per-game player for the 20th time in as many seasons.

Sweden may not have the top-to-bottom star power of the Canadians, but there are certainly a few players who deserve a little extra attention. Let’s start with one familiar to Canadian hockey fans – William Nylander. The Toronto Maple Leafs forward sits second in the NHL with 33 goals this season and has been terrific wearing the Tre Kronor; Nylander’s last international appearance came at the 2019 IIHF World Championship when he led the tournament with 18 points (5-13—18) despite the Swedes going out in the quarterfinals. And since we mentioned Crosby, we’d be remiss not to mention the Swedish captain – Victor Hedman. The veteran defenceman has a trophy case that includes Men’s Worlds gold, two Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Norris Trophy, along with more than 700 points in more than 1,000 NHL games. Only three Swedish blue-liners have recorded more points – two (Nicklas Lidstrom and Borje Salming) are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the third, Erik Karlsson, will join Hedman at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

A Look Back

If we look back strictly at best-on-best competition, dating back to the 1976 Canada Cup, the Canadians have a decided advantage, winning 10 of the 12 meetings.

The only other matchup in a gold medal game or tournament final came at the 1984 Canada Cup, when Canada swept the best-of-three final in Alberta. Michel Goulet had two goals and an assist to in a 5-2 win in Game 1 in Calgary before 12 players recorded points in the opening 17 minutes to help Canada to a 5-0 first-period lead in Game 2 in Edmonton, en route to a 6-5 victory.

All-time record: Canada leads 10-2-0 (1-0 in OT)
Canada goals: 45
Sweden goals: 27

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), has announced that Drew Doughty (London, ON/Los Angeles, NHL) has been added to the Team Canada roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off, set for Feb. 12-20 in Montréal, Québec, and Boston, Massachusetts.

Doughty has spent his entire 17-year career with the Los Angeles Kings (2008-25), serving as an alternate captain for the last nine seasons (2016-25). He has won two Stanley Cups (2012, 2014) and the Norris Trophy (2016), and is the team’s all-time leader in points by a defenceman while ranking eighth in career scoring (156-513—669 in 1,179 games played) for the Kings. Internationally, he has won gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games (2010, 2014) and IIHF World Junior Championship (2008), as well a World Cup of Hockey championship (2016), and a silver medal at the 2009 IIHF World Championship.

Doughty replaces Alex Pietrangelo (King City, ON/Vegas, NHL), who is unable to participate in the tournament.

Canada will open the 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden on Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT at the Bell Centre in Montréal. It will also take on the United States on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Montréal and Finland on Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT at TD Garden in Boston before the tournament concludes with the championship game on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Boston.

For more information on the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, please visit the official tournament page.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), has announced that Sidney Crosby (Cole Harbour, NS/Pittsburgh, NHL) will wear the ‘C’ for Team Canada at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, set for Feb. 12-20 in Montréal, Québec, and Boston, Massachusetts.

Connor McDavid (Newmarket, ON/Edmonton, NHL) and Cale Makar (Calgary, AB/Colorado, NHL) will join Crosby as alternate captains.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to again represent Canada on the international stage, and it is an honour to be named captain for the 4 Nations Face-Off on a team with so many great leaders,” Crosby said. “I look forward to serving as captain alongside Connor and Cale who are amazing leaders in their own right. All of us are excited to wear the Team Canada jersey and to kick off the 4 Nations Face-Off in front of Canadian fans.” 

“Sidney, Connor and Cale all possess exceptional leadership qualities, a determination to be the best and a burning desire to win,” said head coach Jon Cooper (Prince George, BC/Tampa Bay, NHL). “We are fortunate to have incredible leadership on our team. These players will lead Canada with pride as we set out to accomplish our goal of winning the 4 Nations Face-Off.”

Canada will open the 4 Nations Face-Off against Sweden on Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT at the Bell Centre in Montréal. It will also take on the United States on Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Montréal and Finland on Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT at TD Garden in Boston before the tournament concludes with the championship game on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in Boston.

For more information on the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, please visit the official tournament page.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Twenty-six players will wear the Maple Leaf when Canada’s National Men’s Team looks to capture a record 17th championship at the 2024 Spengler Cup, Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland.

The three goaltenders, nine defencemen and 14 forwards were selected by co-general managers Brad Pascall (Coquitlam, BC/Calgary, NHL) and Joe Thornton (St. Thomas, ON), alongside assistant general manager Hnat Domenichelli (Edmonton, AB/HC Lugano, NL).

“All of the players named today are extremely excited to represent their country and wear the Maple Leaf as they compete at the Spengler Cup,” said Pascall. “Our management group feels we have a good mix of experienced players with a wealth of skill and leadership. This is a unique and exciting tournament, and we know these players will embrace the challenge in front of them.”

The roster includes three players - Philip-Michaël Devos (Sorel-Tracy, QC/HC Ajoie, NL),Jonathan Hazen (Val-Bélair, QC/HC Ajoie, NL) and Josh Jooris (Burlington, ON/Genève-Servette HC, NL) – who will be representing Canada at the prestigious annual invitational tournament for the second year in a row. Jooris helped Canada win its most recent title in 2019.

In total, seven players have previous Spengler Cup experience with Team Canada (Carr, Curran, Devos, Gagner, Grégoire, Hazen, Jooris) and three represented Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship (Bowey, Gagner, Hudon).

Canada opens the 2024 Spengler Cup against host HC Davos on Dec. 26 at 2:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. PT and will also face the DEL’s Straubing Tigers in preliminary-round play. The championship game is set for Dec. 31 at 6:10 a.m. ET/3:10 a.m. PT.

TSN, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partner, will broadcast all 11 tournament games; check local listings for details.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Spengler Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca  or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has named its coaching staff for Canada’s National Men’s Team at the 2024 Spengler Cup, Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland.

Gerard Gallant (Summerside, PE) takes the reins as head coach and will be tasked with leading Canada back to the championship game for the first time since 2019, alongside assistant coaches Dave Hakstol (Warburg, AB), Mike Kelly (Shamrock, PE) and Johan Lundskog (Visby, SWE/SC Rapperswil-Jona, NL).

The coaching staff was selected by the management group of co-general managers Brad Pascall (Coquitlam, BC/Calgary, NHL) and Joe Thornton (St. Thomas, ON) alongside assistant general manager Hnat Domenichelli (Edmonton, AB/HC Lugano, NL), who all return for a second-consecutive year. Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, also provided input.

“We are excited to be led by Gerard, Dave, Mike and Johan, who have amassed more than five decades of experience coaching both in the NHL and Europe, and we know that experience will benefit our team as we look to bring home a championship,” said Salmond. “Having Brad, Joe and Hnat in management brings valuable leadership and experience to our group. We know they will work together to put a competitive team on the ice at the Spengler Cup.”

Gallant returns behind the bench for the first time since winning a gold medal with Canada’s National Men’s Team at the 2021 IIHF World Championship. As an assistant coach he won gold and silver at Men’s Worlds in 2007 and 2017. He also served as an assistant coach with Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Gallant has coached for more than 20 years in the NHL, including as head coach with Columbus (2004-06), Florida (2014-17), Vegas (2017-20) and the New York Rangers (2021-23), winning the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 2017-18. He spent three seasons (2009-12) as head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), winning back-to-back QMJHL championships (2011, 2012) and the Memorial Cup in 2011, in addition to consecutive nods as QMJHL and Canadian Hockey League (CHL) coach of the year in 2009-10 and 2010-11.

Hakstol will represent Canada for the third time as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Team after winning silver medals at the IIHF World Championship in 2017 and 2019. He served as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers from 2015-18 and was named the first head coach in Seattle Kraken history in 2021, spending three seasons with the team. Prior to joining the Kraken, he also served as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs (2019-21). Hakstol held various coaching roles with the University of North Dakota from 2000-15, including as head coach from 2004-15, earning WCHA Coach of the Year honours in 2008-09.

Kelly won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Team at the 2021 IIHF World Championship. He has represented Canada on multiple occasions, including coaching Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team to a gold medal at the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championship. He was also an assistant coach at the IIHF World Junior Championship three times (2000, 2001, 2002). He served as an assistant coach to Gallant in both Vegas (2017-20) and Florida (2014-17). Kelly also spent four seasons with the Saint John Sea Dogs, including two as head coach and general manager (2012-14) and two as associate coach alongside Gallant (2010-12). Prior to the QMJHL, he spent three seasons as an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks (2006-08) and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose (2005-06).

Lundskog is making his international coaching debut with Canada’s National Men’s Team and is currently in his first season as an associate coach with SC Rapperswil-Jona in Switzerland’s National League (NL). He served as an assistant coach of IK Oskarshamn in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan (2014-15), Evansville of the ECHL (2015-16), Frölunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League (2016-19) and HC Davos in the NL (2019-21). He was head coach of SC Bern in the NL from 2021-22, as well as with Adler Mannheim in Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) during the 2023-24 season.

Hockey Canada also named the support staff that will work with Canada’s National Men’s Team at the Spengler Cup:

• Video coach Jérémy Coupal (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC)
• Equipment manager Peter Bureaux (Kitchener, ON/Calgary, AHL)
• Sport physiotherapist Doug Stacey (London, ON/Western University, OUA)
• Massage therapist Andy Hüppi (Schmerikon, SUI)
• Team physician Jim Thorne (Calgary, AB/Calgary, NHL)
• Managers of hockey operations Mitchell Furlotte (Bathurst, NB) and Kurt Keats (Winnipeg, MB)
• Coordinator of hockey operations Miah Armitage (Creston, BC)

Canada opens the 2024 Spengler Cup against host HC Davos on Dec. 26 at 2:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. PT, and will also face the DEL’s Straubing Tigers in preliminary-round play. The championship game is set for Dec. 31 at 6:10 a.m. ET/3:10 a.m. PT.

TSN, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partner, will broadcast all 11 tournament games; check local listings for details.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Spengler Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca  or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the return of its management group for a second-consecutive year with Canada’s National Men’s Team at the 2024 Spengler Cup, Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland.

After making his international management debut last year, Joe Thornton (St. Thomas, ON) assumes the role of co-general manager alongside Brad Pascall (Coquitlam, BC/Calgary, NHL). Hnat Domenichelli (Edmonton, AB/HC Lugano, NL) also debuted in a management role with Team Canada in 2023 and returns as assistant general manager.

“Brad, Joe and Hnat brought tremendous leadership and experience to our group last year and we are thrilled to have them return and build upon last season,” said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations. “Each bring their own knowledge having represented Canada on multiple occasions and in varying roles. They know what it takes to win in short-term competition and we know they will assemble a team that will proudly wear the Maple Leaf in its quest to win the Spengler Cup.”

Pascall is currently in his 11th season as assistant general manager of the Calgary Flames, and his second as vice-president of hockey operations. Pascall is also general manager of the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League (AHL). Prior to joining the Flames, Pascall was the vice-president of hockey operations and national teams with Hockey Canada for nearly four years (2010-14), and worked for the organization from 1996-2014. During his tenure, he won five-straight gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship (2005-09), three Olympic gold medals (2002, 2010, 2014), two IIHF World Championship gold medals (2003, 2004), the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the 2012 Spengler Cup. 

Thornton enjoyed a 25-year professional playing career that included NHL stints with the Boston Bruins (1997-2005), San Jose Sharks (2005-20), Toronto Maple Leafs (2021) and Florida Panthers (2021-22), as well as parts of three seasons with HC Davos (2004-05, 2012-13, 2020-21) during NHL lockouts and the COVID-19 pandemic. In over 1,700 NHL games, he amassed 1,539 points (430-1109—1539), was a six-time all-star and won the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy in 2005-06. Internationally, Thornton suited up for Canada eight times, winning a gold medal at the 1996 Pacific Cup, gold at the 1997 IIHF World Junior Championship, silver at the 2005 IIHF World Championship and gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, as well as the World Cup of Hockey in 2004 and 2016. He also played in two Spengler Cups (2004, 2012) with HC Davos, winning the championship in 2004. 

Domenichelli has served as general manager of HC Lugano of the National League (NL) since 2019. As a player, he had an 18-year professional career that included 922 games in the NHL, AHL and NL, while also representing Canada nine times. Domenichelli won a gold medal at the 1996 IIHF World Junior Championship, suited up at the Spengler Cup four times (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008), winning the championship in 2003, and represented Switzerland at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. He also won back-to-back Memorial Cups (1994, 1995) with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), as well as the Calder Cup with the AHL’s Houston Aeros in 2003. 

Canada opens the 2024 Spengler Cup against host HC Davos on Dec. 26 at 2:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. PT, and will also face the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in preliminary-round play. The championship game is set for Dec. 31 at 6:10 a.m. ET/3:10 a.m. PT.

TSN, Hockey Canada’s official broadcast partner, will broadcast all 11 tournament games; check local listings for details.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Spengler Cup, please visit HockeyCanada.ca  or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

The wait is over – Canada has announced its roster for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, the first best-on-best international tournament since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

There’s still more than two months until the first puck drops at the Bell Centre in Montreal, but it’s never too early to take a deep dive into the Canadian roster – who they are, where they’ve come from and what they’ve done.

10,675: Combined points in 13,412 National Hockey League games (3838-6837—10675); Sidney Crosby (1,622) and Connor McDavid (1,013) are the only members of the 1,000-point club. They’ll likely be joined shortly by Brad Marchand (947) and Nathan MacKinnon (938).

5,831: Kilometres (according to Google Maps) from West Vancouver, B.C., hometown of Sam Reinhart, to Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, hometown of Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon – the westernmost and easternmost communities represented on the roster.

476: Combined points in 564 international games wearing the Maple Leaf (195-281—476); six players clock in as point-per-game performers with Team Canada – Sidney Crosby (32-35—67 in 54 GP), Nathan MacKinnon (18-25—43 in 42 GP), Cale Makar (3-5—8 in 7 GP), Mitch Marner (10-15—25 in 20 GP), Connor McDavid (18-27—55 in 41 GP) and Mark Stone (19-15—34 in 26 GP).

455: Population (according to the 2021 Census) of Elkhorn, Manitoba, hometown of Travis Sanheim and the smallest of any player.

73-196: Average height (in inches) and weight (in pounds); Colton Parayko (6-foot-6, 228 pounds) is the biggest player, while Brad Marchand (5-foot-9, 176 pounds) is the smallest.

32: Individual NHL awards won; the total is shared amongst four players – Connor McDavid has won 14 (Art Ross x5; Ted Lindsay x4; Hart x3; Rocket Richard; Conn Smythe), Sidney Crosby has won 12 (Ted Lindsay x3; Art Ross x2; Hart x2; Conn Smythe x2; Rocket Richard x2; Messier Leadership), Nathan MacKinnon has won four (Calder; Hart; Ted Lindsay; Lady Byng); and Cale Makar has won two (Norris; Conn Smythe).

29-9-14: Average age (in years, months and days) as of Feb. 12, 2025, the first day of the tournament; Sidney Crosby (37 years, six months, six days) is the oldest, while Seth Jarvis (23 years, 12 days) is the youngest.

20: Stanley Cup championships; 15 of the 23 players have hoisted hockey’s biggest prize at least once. Sidney Crosby has the most, with three. Anthony Cirelli, Alex Pietrangelo and Brayden Point are the only others with multiple titles.

13: Players drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft, three of them taken No. 1 (Crosby, MacKinnon, McDavid); the roster also includes players selected in the third (7), fourth (1) and sixth (2) rounds.

11: Gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship, along with two silver medals and one bronze; Brad Marchand is the only player with multiple gold medals, in 2007 and 2008.

9: Gold medals at the IIHF World Championship, along with 11 silver medals; Nathan MacKinnon, Sam Reinhart and Mark Stone have one of each in their trophy case.

6: Hockey Canada Members represented; the Ontario Hockey Federation leads the way with seven players, followed by Hockey Alberta (6), BC Hockey (3), Hockey Manitoba (3), Hockey Nova Scotia (3) and Hockey Quebec (1).

5: Players to wear the ‘C’ with Team Canada – Sidney Crosby (2014 Olympics, 2015 Men’s Worlds, 2016 World Cup); Travis Konecny (2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup); Connor McDavid (2018 Men’s Worlds); Brayden Point (2016 World Juniors); and Sam Reinhart (2012 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka, 2013 U18 Men’s Worlds).

4: Alumni of the TELUS Cup, Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship – Sidney Crosby (Dartmouth Subways, 2002); Alex Pietrangelo (Toronto Jr. Canadiens, 2006); Sam Reinhart (Vancouver NW Giants, 2011); and Mark Stone (Winnipeg Thrashers, 2008).

3: Olympic gold medals; Sidney Crosby has two, in 2010 and 2014, while Alex Pietrangelo was part of the Canadian contingent at Sochi 2014.

3: Alumni of the Junior A World Challenge – Cale Makar (2015 and 2016), Colton Parayko (2011) and Devon Toews (2012); Makar (in 2015) and Parayko won gold medals with Canada West.

2: Alumni of the Centennial Cup, Canada’s National Junior A Championship – Cale Makar (2016 and 2017) and Devon Toews (2013).