Hockey/NHL guys: Four Nations Face-Off

[Menace Sockeyes]

Anyone else looking forward to this? IMHO, hockey went from the worst “all star” format of the biggest five major leagues, to the best. The Six Nations rugby tournament is fantastic, and this has potential to be a bit like that. International hockey is fantastic, and the NHL finally isn’t getting in its own way. It was stupid to keep NHL guys from the last Olympics, as it was the best tournament in the Winter Olympics. Now there’s another tournament that can serve as off year build-up, and grow interest in NHL players. Rosters just dropped today…

4 Nations Face-Off rosters announced for USA, Canada, Finland, Sweden

Wednesday marked the unveiling of the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off rosters. Who will play for the USA, Canada, Finland and Sweden?

www.usatoday.com

 

[Ray Kinsella]

I had seen commercials recently for this tournament. I hadn't realized that this was mid-season, and was a replacement for the all star game.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

@DirtyJohns97 @SoDakHawk @DooBi @SalAunese @sultanofsuede @WhiteSoxClone

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off Central: Schedule, rosters, news, how to watch

Best-on-best international hockey returns in February, 2025. Explore the full schedule, rosters, and coverage on each team.

www.espn.com

 

[WhiteSoxClone]

I’m super excited about it tbh! My only reservation is that it’s hard to have a tournament of nations in hockey and not include Russia. But I understand why Russia has to be excluded. I think the USA has a great shot with their goal tending. Canada has the best squad but the weakest goal tending.

 

[JWolf74]

I think this will be pretty solid. I do kind of wish they'd have a Russian team and an "international" team of the leftover countries.

 

[cfbfan23]

The best part is that the players seem to be into it, as well.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

I’m super excited about it tbh! My only reservation is that it’s hard to have a tournament of nations in hockey and not include Russia. But I understand why Russia has to be excluded. I think the USA has a great shot with their goal tending. Canada has the best squad but the weakest goal tending.

I think this will be pretty solid. I do kind of wish they'd have a Russian team and an "international" team of the leftover countries.

Russia made their own bed with the jagoff leadership. They’re welcome once they’re done being a pariah state. I do agree a “rest of the world” team is intriguing, considering my other favorite international team is Denmark, and three Danes helped Team Europe to a runner-up finish at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey (the NHL’s last foray into an international tournament). However, six teams would need to be two groups of three with two group stage games and a final. The four team round robin format is more drama (as any FIFA World Cup fan can attest to). And all four being actual national teams gives it more authenticity.

 

[sultanofsuede]

I caught a little of this story but hadn’t looked into the details. My first thought is, ‘yeah, I’ll watch’.