The 4 Nations NHL Face-Off brought together the best level of hockey from Canada, the U.S., Sweden, and Finland, creating a fun to watch international competition that had fans interested worldwide. This tournament provided a great balance of high-level play, nationalism, and intense rivalries which significantly boosted viewership and interest in the sport.

There were many factors that went into the success of the event, but one main key factor in its success was the showing of the best NHL players representing their countries, something fans don’t get to see often. This star power drew in both original NHL fans and casual sports fans that were new to hockey, increasing viewership and engagement across the world. Additionally, the tournament’s timing, positioned mid-season, gave hockey an event that kept audiences invested outside of traditional league play. Instead of a boring all star game that no one tries in, the implementation of the 4 Nations Face Off made all players try their hardest, even when they were not representing their NHL clubs.

The format of the 4 team tournament was simple. Each team played each other once, and the 2 teams with the most points met in the gold medal match. Team USA met up with Canada in the finals, as Sweden came in third, and Finland in last. This format kept competition fierce and created interesting and action packed storylines. Matchups between the best hockey nations in the country like Canada and the U.S., as well as rising European contenders like Sweden and Finland, provided super fast-paced action, making viewers glued to their screen.

The use of Social media during the tournament also played a big role in highlighting the event, with highlight-reel plays and viral moments spreading quickly, further driving interest in the sport. ESPN, Bleacher Report, and House of Highlights usually don’t post all too much about Hockey. But they all couldn’t help themselves after the Tkachuck brothers on Team USA had a sick fight against Brandon Hagel and Sam Bennett of Team Canada. Also when Connor Mcdavid’s scored the game winning gold medal overtime goal winning Team Canada the tournament. Student of Harborfields, Riley Kast said he was “amazed” and “instantly hooked” once he saw the fights on his instagram page. “I never watched hockey, but after seeing that, I want to become a fan of a team and learn more about the NHL.” Moments like that made this tournament blow up on everyone's phones.

Overall, the 4 Nations Face-Off was a huge success for the sport of hockey, delivering tons of excitement, elevating the sport across the world, and proving that international tournaments that involve NHL players have a major role in growing the game’s popularity.

4 Nations Face-Off Saved Hockey Viewership Throughout The World