Connor McDavid (number 97) shot Canada to victory. © APA / MADDIE MEYER

Despite Trump's call: Canada defeats the USA

The final of the 4 Nations Face-Off took place on Friday night. It was once again a duel between the USA and Canada. This time, however, Canada had reason to celebrate.

21. February 2025

From: dpa

Even a motivational call and provocations from President Donald Trump himself did not help: The USA national ice hockey team lost an explosive final of the four-nation tournament against Canada. In the politically charged duel in Boston, the guests from the neighboring country won 3:2 after extra time. Connor McDavid, club colleague of German superstar Leon Draisaitl at the Edmonton Oilers, scored the winning goal.

In the group match, which the USA won 3-1 against hosts Canada in Montreal last Sunday, there were whistles and boos against the US national anthem. There were also three fights within the first nine seconds of the game. There were no such incidents in the final this time. Both teams fought an exciting duel in which Canada initially took the lead through Nathan MacKinnon, but the USA turned the game around through Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson. Canada forced overtime, in which the previously pale McDavid became the match winner.

Sidney Crosby with the winner's trophy. © APA / BRUCE BENNETT

Trump called the US team before the final and wished them good luck. On his platform "Truth Social" he sent a provocation to the north: "I will call our great American hockey team to encourage them to win against Canada, which with much lower taxes and much stronger security will one day, perhaps soon, become our esteemed and very important 51st state."

A taste of the 2026 Olympics

The tournament was intended to provide a foretaste of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Although only the USA, Canada, Finland and Sweden took part, other stars like Draisaitl were missing. But they could meet in a year when NHL professionals take part in the Olympics for the first time. In 2018 and 2022, the professionals from the best league in the world were still missing.