Tournament Tensions Mount as US–Canada Hockey Rivalry Mixes In Politics

At the 4 Nations Face-Off, an age-old rivalry is renewed amid Trump’s tariff threats and comments on making the Great White North the 51st state.

Team USA's Dylan Larkin (L) celebrates his goal against Canada with Matt Boldy, Jaccob Slavin, and Brock Faber during 4 Nations Face-Off action in Montreal on Feb. 15, 2025. Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP

It is more than just a hockey game.

On Feb. 20, the National Hockey League’s best American players will face off against its best Canadian players once again in the championship bout of the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. It is round two of a rivalry match nearly a decade overdue, colliding national politics with sport on a level that has American fans reminiscing about their 1980 Miracle on Ice victory against the Soviet Union.