The inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off is inching closer and closer and on Friday the four teams competing announced their first six players for the tournament.
Team Canada’s roster will see Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby team up on the international stage. They will be joined by Avalanche teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, as well as Bruins captain Brad Marchand and Lightning star Brayden Point.
Canada is led by head coach Jon Cooper and general manager Doug Armstrong.
The United States team features a pair of Norris Trophy winners and last season’s leading goal scorer. The U.S. will be led by Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Eichel up front while Quinn Hughes, Adam Fox and Charlie McAvoy will anchor the blue line.
Finland was the only country to name a goalie to their roster, selecting Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators. Finland also features a pair of defencemen from Dallas, Miro Heiskenen and Esa Lindell, as well as a talented trio of forwards in Aleksander Barkov, Mikko Rantanen and Sebastian Aho.
Sweden, like the U.S., selected three defencemen as part of their first six: Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson and Gustav Forsling. Also representing Sweden are scoring forwards Filip Forsberg, Mika Zibanejad and William Nylander.
The seven-game international tournament involving Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States is set to take place from Feb. 12-20, 2025, at the Bell Centre in Montreal and TD Garden in Boston.
Here is a look at the first six players taking to the ice for each team in February’s tournament:
First Six for Canada
F Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
F Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche)
F Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins)
F Brad Marchand (Boston Bruins)
F Brayden Point (Tampa Bay Lightning)
D Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)
First Six for the United States
F Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs)
F Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers)
F Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights)
D Adam Fox (New York Rangers)
D Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks)
D Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins)
First Six for Finland
G Juuse Saros (Nashville Predators)
D Esa Lindell (Dallas Stars)
D Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars)
F Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers)
F Mikko Rantanen (Colorado Avalanche)
F Sebastian Aho (Carolina Hurricanes)
First Six for Sweden
D Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning)
D Erik Karlsson (Pittsburgh Penguins)
D Gustav Forsling (Florida Panthers)
F Filip Forsberg (Nashville Predators)
F Mika Zibanejad (New York Rangers)
F William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs)
The highly anticipated 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament, featuring teams from Canada, the United States, Finland, and Sweden, has announced its first players for the upcoming competition. This international event is set to showcase some of the best talent in women’s hockey and is sure to be a thrilling display of skill and sportsmanship.
Representing Canada in the tournament will be a formidable lineup of players, including star forwards such as Marie-Philip Poulin and Natalie Spooner, as well as standout defensemen like Renata Fast and Jocelyne Larocque. With a history of success on the international stage, Team Canada will be looking to continue their winning ways in this prestigious tournament.
The United States team will be led by veteran players such as Hilary Knight and Amanda Kessel, who bring a wealth of experience and skill to the ice. With a strong roster of talented athletes, Team USA is sure to be a tough competitor in the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament.
Finland will be represented by a talented group of players, including goaltender Noora Raty and forward Michelle Karvinen. Known for their speed and tenacity, Team Finland will be looking to make a statement in this tournament and showcase their abilities against some of the top teams in the world.
Rounding out the lineup is Team Sweden, which will feature skilled players like Pernilla Winberg and Emma Nordin. With a reputation for playing a fast-paced and aggressive style of hockey, Team Sweden will be a team to watch in the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament.
Overall, the first players announced for the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament represent some of the best talent in women’s hockey from around the world. Fans can expect to see high-level competition and exciting matchups as these teams battle it out for supremacy on the ice. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements as the tournament draws closer!