The confrontation of the 4 nations has been a great success for the NHL, with the confrontation of Saturday between United States and Canada Drawing mass qualifications.
AND NHL Gary Bettman Commissioner He knows that the recipe for success has been a mixture of national pride and a love for hockey.
Players and fans represent the United States National Anthem before the 4 -nations confrontation game between Canada and the United States in Montreal on Saturday, February 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press through AP)
During an appearance in the “Fox Sports Breakfast Ball on Wednesday morning, Bettman praised the success of the tournament, which has led the largest stars in the league to the center of the stage with an early look at which will come during the 2026 Winter Olympic Games In Italy.
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“The amount of emotion and attention that 4 nations has received has been phenomenal,” he said. “And I think many people, not only hockey fans, hope to see the rematch between Canada and the United States tomorrow night.”
The United States and Canada’s team will have a revenge of the Saturday’s Round game that saw Americans get a 3-1 victory with a high political backdrop between the two nations. Those cracks stood out when Canadian fans booed During the national anthem before two of the United States games.
In reaction to the boos of the crowd and the passion of the players in the ice, which resulted in several fights, Bettman said Wednesday that he did not expect the opposite.
Dylan Larkin of the United States celebrates its goal about Canada with its teammate Matt Boldy during the 4 -nations confrontation action in Montreal on Saturday, February 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press through AP)
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“Our players were playing to play. Hockey players are like that, even if they are playing Shinny in a pond, they love to play the game, they love to go out everything. Remember, the team is incredibly supplied with the best hockey players in the hockey players world of most countries. ”
The 4 -nations confrontation tournament is the precursor of two of the most anticipated events in hockey: the return of hockey at the Olympic Games and the Hockey World Cup.
“The fact is that we have not had the best of the best in about 10 years and there are many reasons for that,” Bettman said. “Many people were criticizing ‘this is ridiculous, nobody will see it, players will not be intense about it.” There is no doubt about how our players love to play and represent their countries. “
Commissioner Gary Bettman during a press conference before the final game of the Stanley Cup between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers at Esrant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, on June 8, 2024. (Sam Navarro-USA Today Sports)
According to the League, Saturday’s game between the United States and Canada attracted more than 10.1 million viewers in North America, exceeding any final game of the No Stanley Cup in more than a decade.
The two teams will meet again in the championship game on Thursday at 8 pm et.
