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Sport Nation
NHL’s 4 Nations Face-off proves why we don’t need All Star weekends
Logan Swinkels • February 17th, 2025 3:33 pm
Photo: NHL
Three fights in nine seconds – that’s what created the headlines for the politically-charged match between USA and Canada on Sunday (NZ time).
That’s probably a given considering how little media attention the sport of ice hockey attracts in New Zealand – the fights stand out as an easy highlight.
But what should really be celebrated is the quality of the product on the ice that day: Connor McDavid’s unmatched speed and skill, Dylan Larkin’s wrist shot beating Canada goalie Jordan Binnington on the rush, while down the other end, Connor Hellebuyck denied 25 of 26 shots to stake his claim as the best netminder in the world.
The 4 Nations Face-off has created a fever for best-on-best international play that saw the sport’s two biggest rivals square off at the elite level for the first time in nine years.
American TV viewership has exceeded expectations with Front Office Sports reporting an average of 4.4 million viewers for USA vs Canada, peaking at 5.2 million, while competing against the NBA All Star weekend.
The NBA has been chasing its own tail for years now attempting to make its All Star game even remotely watchable, trying – and failing – with a range of different formats across the weekend.
Those numbers, and the social media reaction, show that the National Hockey League is onto a winner here with the 4 Nations taking place instead of the NHL’s own All Star weekend for the 2024/25 season.
Unfortunately, ESPN Australia & New Zealand opted to not show it live from puck drop, aside from within their clunky app, due to a scheduling conflict that brought with it criticism from the hockey die-hards.
It was arguably the biggest ice hockey match in a decade, that criticism was warranted. But hopefully those issues that create roadblocks for fans will become a thing of the past, when ESPN is available on the established Disney+ streaming platform later this year.
What Sunday’s match also proved was why it’s time to ditch the All-Star weekend in favour of best-on-best international hockey – as much as possible, as soon as possible.
I brought this idea up with my wife yesterday and she proposed the following question: ‘What would do a better job at promoting the sport to new audiences?’
The All-Star weekends have been branded as a family-friendly event, with its skill competitions and 3-on-3 tournament trying to show a more ‘fun’ side to the sport.
But if the online discourse is anything to go by, the format was wearing thin. Buy-in from the players was also questionable, as stars dropped out days prior, preferring to use the mid-season break as an opportunity to recover ahead of a potential Stanley Cup run.
Lacing up the skates for your nation against the world’s best is an enticing carrot for the players, and a winning hand for old and new fans alike.
The tournament also features Sweden and Finland, with all matches so far being played at Montreal’s Bell Centre. USA have already qualified with their 3-1 win, now the Canadians must beat the Fins on Tuesday morning to secure their spot for what would be an unmissable rematch in the final at Boston’s TD Garden.
The Star-Spangled Banner anthem got booed in Montreal, now imagine the reception O Canada could be in for come Friday, if Sidney Crosby’s side qualifies, amidst the backdrop of political tensions between the neighbouring nations set alight by tariffs.
The NHL hasn’t allowed its players to compete in the Winter Olympics since Sochi 2014 but will be available for next year’s Olympic tournament in Milan and Cortina.
The good news is that for the foreseeable future, elite international ice hockey will become a bi-annual event – starting with next year’s Winter Olympics, 2028 sees the return of the World Cup of Hockey, and then again in 2032 after the 2030 French Alps Winter Olympics.
The NHL could be accused of undermining the international game in the past, much like the NRL and rugby league.
But when the likes of USA, Canada, Sweden and Finland create the on-ice fireworks we’ve seen in the past week, it’s great to see the powers that be are getting out of their own way for the betterment of the sport.
Logan Swinkels is Sport Nation's digital executive producer, and former co-host of NZ ice hockey podcast Puck Yeah!
