New tournaments are sprouting up everywhere in the 21st century from the NBA Cup to the World Baseball Classic.
And now, the NHL has a new one: the 4 Nations Face-Off, which is coming in February (that’s closer than you think!). Why talk about it now, as of publishing this? Because the rosters of hockey players will be announced, and it sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun.
If you’re totally confused? We’re here to help you. Here’s a breakdown of the tournament and why it’s going to be awesome.
Let’s dive in and talk about all things 4 Nations:
What’s the 4 Nations Face-Off?
It’s a new hockey tournament between — as you guessed — four nations of NHL players: United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland.
When is the 4 Nations Face-Off?
It’s taking place from February 12 to the 20th in 2025.
Where is the 4 Nations Face-Off being played?
Another great question! It’ll be in Montreal and Boston.
What’s the format of the 4 Nations Face-Off?
Each team will have 23 NHL players. The games will be played with NHL rules and ice size, and it’ll start with three round-robin games, with three points for a regulation win and two for an overtime victory. A loss in overtime gets one point, and zero for a loss in regulation.
The two winners with the most points will play in a final.
What’s the schedule of the 4 Nations Face-Off?
All times are Eastern!
Feb 12: Canada vs. Sweden on TNT at 8 p.m.
Feb 13: USA vs. Finland on ESPN at 8 p.m.
Feb 15: Finland vs. Sweden on ABC at 1 p.m.
Feb 15: USA vs. Canada on ABC at 8 p.m.
Feb 17: Canada vs. Finland on TNT at 1 p.m.
Feb 17: Sweden vs. USA on TNT at 8 p.m.
Feb 20: The championship game, 8 p.m. on ESPN
Will there be an NHL All-Star Game in 2025?
Nope. This is replacing the All-Star Game.
