4 Nations Face-Off - 🏆️ One Word: McJesus

What to know: If it was going to be Canada, it was going to be Connor McDavid. It was always going to be Connor McDavid. His OT winner set the hockey world on fire last night as Canada took home the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off in a 3-2 OT win over the United States.

We can talk about the game, but I want to talk about the whole dang tournament. The principle of it. You can watch the highlights anywhere. I want to talk about why this tournament was as amazing as it was.

I, like many others across the world and especially in the United States, grew so much respect for the game of hockey this week. In a world of professional sports surrounded with so much stuff other than the game itself (which I’m not saying is innately a bad thing), it’s so amazing to see these guys have such an elite passion for the game.

They have a whole second half of an NHL season to go back to, and some will hopefully have long runs in the playoffs. That didn’t matter to them. They wanted to represent their country at the highest level possible, and win. You could see through a TV how much these guys cared and wanted this win. On both sides.

Even after Sweden won their only game, their captain got on an interview and said how much that one win meant for his guys and the country. Just one win! On the national stage! It matters.

I know the other professional sports leagues watched this game this week with their jaws on the floor, I know I did. Bodies on the line during the ALL-STAR BREAK? Are you kidding me?? Guys were chomping at the bit to join these teams, canceling vacations and flying across the country in the blink of an eye just for the chance to play for these teams. Nobody is doing that in any other sports All-Star Game.

This was a MASSIVE needle-mover for the game of hockey. What a massive risk that the NHL took, putting their best players on the ice to fight it out, for a seemingly meaningless tournament, not worrying about what it may mean for the rest of the NHL regular season. The risk paid off, I can’t wait for next year.

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