MacKinnon, along with Cale Makar and Devon Toews, had the opportunity to play for Canada in a best-on-best men’s tournament for the first time at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. He had the chance to play with his childhood idol-turned-friend Sidney Crosby in games that matter for the first time. He also didn’t let down 8-year-old Nathan MacKinnon.

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An incredible 4 Nations Face-Off came to an incredible end, thanks to an incredible player. Connor McDavid scored a blister

Best on best. It’s a format the hockey aficionados have craved for years. And their dreams finally came true this month with a 4 Nations Face-Off that was a smash hit, in more ways than one. Canada prevailed Thursday in a riveting championship game with a 3-2 overtime victory over Team USA that already has the Stars and Stripes plotting revenge when the 2026 Olympics take place

The 4 Nations final ranks in the top 10 most expensive NHL games on record for one ticket reseller whose data goes back to 2011.

The 4 Nations Face-Off final between Canada and the United States on Thursday averaged more than 9.25 million viewers on ESPN, making it the most-watched non-Olympic hockey game in the Nielsen era (since 1988).