The NHL tried something new this year. In the ramp up to next year’s Milan Winter Olympics, the NHL compiled four dream teams of the biggest nations in the league: Canada, Sweden, Finland, and America, competing in Montreal and then in Boston. Although some confusion remains, questions lingering on all four countries’ timelines, the break competition went better than most hockey fans thought it would, despite its expected outcome coming true. 

The lingering questions on my timeline, for one, have been scattered. Some are questioning the decisions of the U.S. coaching staff—which I won’t comment on unless you ask me to—and some are asking how the players were picked—which I can, and will, answer. The general managers (GM’s) and coaches consult statistics from the current and prior seasons, so players that may not be as good as they were last season still had a chance of making the team. They considered injuries and player’s opinions—Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks rejected the placement, citing an injury that left him out of the Canucks’ previous four games. But the teams were well made—rosters consisted of almost every team, only the Seattle Kraken and the Washington Capitals had no player on any of the four nations.

The Montreal leg of the four nations saw four matchups: Canada vs. Sweden, USA vs. Finland, Finland vs. Sweden, and the long awaited USA vs. Canada. Canadian fans were rowdy, as they usually are towards the country-wide favorite sport. “The Star Spangled Banner” was booed twice, for example. Canada and Sweden’s game was the opening one—resulting in a 4 - 3 overtime win in favor of the Canadians, giving them a point for the championship. The U.S. vs. Finland game was a blowout, with a staggering six goals for the U.S. and only 1 for the Finns, giving the U.S. two points, and a chance to head to the championship. Each of the Tkachuk brothers, Matthew (Florida Panthers) and Brady (Ottawa Senators), had two goals, and Matt Boldy (Minnesota Wild) of Millis and Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay Lightning) scored one each. The Sweden and Finland teams held out against each other, the game ending in a 4 - 3 overtime win for Finland, giving them one point for the championship. The long-awaited USA vs. Canada match came after Sweden vs. Finland, and the crowd was even rowdier than it had been in the previous games. The players were, too—three fights in the first minute, and multiple hard checks by Brady Tkachuk and Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins). Despite the Canadian fans’ energy, the U.S. came out victorious, with a 3-1 lead, and an extra two points, guaranteeing a spot in the championship on Thursday the 20th. Jake Guentzel scored two, one of them on an empty net at the very end of the game, and Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings) scored one in the second period. 

The Boston games went just as well as the Montreal leg did. Fans—warned by the arena announcer—were less enthusiastic toward booing Canada’s national anthem than they were toward booing America’s. The energy during the games themselves, however, rivaled the Montreal ones. The “USA” chants were loud and clear during the USA games. The match-ups themselves were a mixed bag. Canada won their game against Finland in regulation 5 - 3, knocking Finland out of the running and securing a spot in the championship. The U.S. lost their game against Sweden 2 - 1, but with no consequences. Chris Kreider (New York Rangers) scored the lonesome goal. Four U.S. players sat out, team captain Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs), both Tkachuk brothers, and Charlie McAvoy. For the U.S., the road to the championship looked bleak.

As everyone expected it to be, the championship was a United States vs. Canada rematch. Auston Matthews and the Tkachuk brothers were back in—although the older Tkachuk brother, Matthew, played for five minutes and then promptly sat on the bench for the rest of the game—and Charlie McAvoy remained out. The game was, as every fan would say, a nail-biter. The U.S. and Canada traded goals and only one penalty was called in the entire game—tripping, against the U.S.’ Vincent Trocheck (New York Rangers.) Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) started off the scoring, followed twelve minutes later by Brady Tkachuk. The second period started with a tie, and Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators) broke it a little over seven minutes in. Sam Bennett (Florida Panthers) re-tied the game seven minutes later. The third period was score-less, and the championship went into overtime. After an excruciating eight minutes of fans screaming at TVs in Canada and the United States alike, Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) scored the OT winner for Canada.

If you didn’t get a chance to watch this highly excruciating and entertaining tournament, that’s OK! It’s coming back the year after every winter Olympics—just not 2027—where it’ll be the regularly scheduled all-star game and skills tournament. A competition of the greatest players from the four biggest countries of the sport was a highly entertaining watch, and you could definitely see which countries focused on which areas of hockey more. Overall, it was a great tournament, and the collectiveness it brought was nice too.