The “4 Nations Face-Off” wasn’t just a hockey tournament, it was a declaration that international, best-on-best hockey can still thrive. Since 2016, fans have been starved of that kind of competition, and with all that time away, it was unclear what kind of interest the players themselves would have. Especially given the fact the tournament was during a two-week pause in the NHL season. 

Needless to say, it proved all that and more. The tournament showed the necessity for regular, meaningful international competitions that actually give fans what they want.From the very beginning, the “4 Nations Face-Off” demonstrated true hockey excellence. As Waynesburg University sophomore and sports media major, Tyler Aaron said during a recent episode of “Plead Your Case,” on WCTV, it’s the, “best thing since sliced bread.” 

The United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland weren’t thrown-together All-Star squads playing glorified exhibition games. These were the best rosters that played like they were competing for something that mattered. Every shift, every puck touch and the three fights in the first nine seconds of the first rendition of U.S.-Canada. That’s exactly what hockey has been missing.

The tournament wrapped up with,  what I would like to say was the best game of the tournament, which is not a knock on the rest of the game. Of course it was Canada and the United States playing in overtime, reminiscent of 2010, withCanada repeating history when the best hockey player in the world in my opinion, Connor McDavid, was left wide open. He proceeded to rip a shot from the slot, securing a 3-2 overtime victory for Canada. 

More than the championship-deciding goal, McDavid’s winner was a reminder of what the NHL has kept from us for nearly a decade. The high-stakes, best-on-best international drama. The McDavid, Crosby, MacKinnon, Makar and Reinhart power play. Jaccob Slavin cemented himself as one of the best defensemen in the world. Most importantly, the passion and pride that can only come with representing your country in a tournament that actually matters.

The tournament’s success went well beyond the players, as it was a worldwide hit, and the numbers proved it. The championship game drew an average of 9.3 million viewers on ESPN in the United States alone according to what was mentioned during the championship broadcast, peaking at 10.4 million, making it the most-watched hockey game in the network’s history according to espn.com. 

In Canada, Sportsnet attracted an average of 5.7 million viewers for the final, making it one of the highest-rated hockey broadcasts in the network’s history. That’s not just a success, that’s sending a message to the rest of the world that hockey’s on the climb. 

For years, the argument has been that international hockey outside of the Olympics wouldn’t generate enough interest. People questioned the validity of a four-team tournament. The players certainly didn’t. The “4 Nations Face-Off” proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that it’s possible from every standpoint.  

The tournament also proved to be a financial triumph. Host cities experienced a surge in tourism, with local businesses benefiting from the people flocking to Montreal and Boston.

A strong foundation has been set for future international competitions, such as the planned 2028 World Cup of Hockey and even the 2026 Winter Olympics set to take place in Italy. 

Just imagine what an expanded version of this tournament could look like, and we’ll see it as early as next year. Adding teams like Czechia, Switzerland and potentially a reinstated Russian squad would take the competition to another level. Hosting games in Europe, as alternating locations for each tournament would take hockey to a level deemed unreachable just a couple months ago.

Most importantly, this can’t be another one-off experiment. There’s a distinct difference between planning and executing. The “4 Nations Face-Off” has proven best-on-best hockey works for all parties. It has set a new standard for international hockey tournaments, combining elite competition, fan engagement and economic impact. The players want it, the fans want it and the league should want it too.

The “4 Nations Face-Off” was a game-changer. Now, let’s hope this form of hockey, playing for your country kind of hockey, is here to stay for good.