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February 2, 2024

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Players’ Association Executive Director Marty Walsh announced the competition in Toronto prior to the 2024 NHL Skills competition at Scotiabank Arena, the host venue for the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend.

NHL All-Stars Connor McDavid, Sebastian Aho, Elias Pettersson and Auston Matthews were present at the announcement.

The in-season 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off will consist of a total of 7-games played during a 9-day period from February 12-20, along with two practice days, February 10-11, and will be held in two yet-to-be named North American cities, one in Canada and one in the United States.

411 On 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament

Each team at the 4 Nations Face-Off will be comprised of 23 NHL players (20 skaters, three goalies) selected by each National Association: Hockey Canada, Finnish Ice Hockey Association, Swedish Ice Hockey Association and USA Hockey
Players must be under an NHL contract for the 2024-25 season and on an NHL roster as of Dec. 2, 2024.
All roster announcement dates will be made by the NHL and NHLPA, with each of the participating National Associations selecting its initial six players this summer, prior to selecting its complete roster later in the year
All games in the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off will be played in accordance with NHL rules on NHL-sized rinks.
Each team will play three tournament games in a traditional round-robin format, with teams earning three points for a win in regulation, two points for a win in overtime or a shootout, one point for a loss in overtime or a shootout, and no points for a loss in regulation
The two teams with the best record will advance to a one-game final. The overtime format for round-robin games will be 3-on-3 sudden death for a 10-minute period, followed by a three-round shootout.
The overtime format for the one-game final will be full strength of sudden death through successive 20-minute periods until one team scores

“We view this event as a building block to a larger World Cup, an important tournament to the players,” Walsh said.

“These guys on this stage, every one of them either talked to me or Ron [Hainsey, NHLPA assistant executive director], personally saying, ‘We want to get international hockey back in the NHL,’ and with this series, we have an amazing opportunity.”
NHL Players’ Association Executive Director Marty Walsh

The NHL will not hold an All-Star Game next season.

Source: nhl.com

🆚 Finland 🇫🇮
⏰ 10:30 AM. PST
📍 Gothenburg,Sweden

📺 TSN
📻 TSN

By Nicholas Pescod | hockeycanada.ca

December 26, 2023

2023-24 National Junior Team

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. LATVIA (DEC. 27)  

Canada’s National Junior Team is right back to action at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship as takes on Latvia for just the fourth time ever in its second preliminary-round game.

Last Game 

Canada kicked off the World Juniors with a 5-2 win over Finland in front of a raucous (and largely Canadian) crowd of 9,837 on Boxing Day. Nate Danielson and Maveric Lamoureux had a goal and assist each. Owen Allard, Macklin Celebrini and Matthew Poitras rounded out the scoring, while Mathis Rousseau made 24 saves in the victory.

Latvia fell to Sweden 6-0 in its tournament opener on Monday. Deivs Rolovs made 29 saves in the Latvian goal, while Rodzers Bukarts, Kristfers Krumins and Emil Veckaktins led the way with three shots on goal apiece.

Last Meeting 

Canada’s last meeting against Latvia was a 5-2 win in the opener of the 2022 World Juniors. Connor Bedard, Ridly Greig, William Dufour, Lukas Cormier and Olen Zellweger all found the back of the net as the Canadians peppered Latvian goaltender Patriks Berzins with 44 shots on goal, breaking the game open with three unanswered goals in the second period.

What to Watch 

If history is any indication, we should be in for plenty of offence. Canada and Latvia have met three other times, in which the Canadians have outscored the Latvians 31-4 and outshot them by a wide 130-59 margin.

Latvian forward Dans Locmelis is one player to keep an eye on. The 19-year-old is a 2022 fourth-round draft pick of the Boston Bruins who is currently playing NCAA hockey at the University of Massachusetts, where he’s got five points in four games. Another one to watch is 19-year-old Florida Panthers prospect, Sandis Vilmanis. Currently playing in the OHL with the Sarnia Sting, the winger has 28 points in 30 games.

A Look Back 

As mentioned earlier, these teams have a very brief history, having only faced off three previous times (2010, 2017 and 2022).

Canada’s first meeting against Latvia on Boxing Day 2009 was a 16-0 victory in which Gabriel Bourque put up a record-tying seven points (3-4—7) while Jordan Eberle, Brandon Kozun, Patrice Cormier, Nazem Kadri and Luke Adam each scored twice. At the 2017 World Juniors, 16 players, including Taylor Raddysh – who tied a Canadian record with four goals – picked up at least one point in a 10-2 win.

All-time record: Canada leads 3-0-0
Canada goals: 31
Latvia goals: 4

Source: hockeycanada.ca