In early February 2025, the world’s top hockey nations, including Canada, Finland, Sweden and the U.S., came together to pit their best players against each other in the 4 Nations Face-Off. The tournament replaced the NHL’s annual All-Star game and offered a chance for players to wear their national colours and assert their hockey dominance. None more so than Canada and the U.S. For decades, each team has staked a claim as “world’s best,” but as the first puck dropped, things were more heated than normal.