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Saturday’s Canada vs. USA match drew massive viewership numbers in North America
Canada USA 4 Nations Face-Off Connor McDavid
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Dylan Nazareth
Feb 19, 2025, 10:30 ESTUpdated: Feb 19, 2025, 09:41 EST
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The NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off continues to be a huge success for the league, with people across the continent tuning in to watch players represent their respective nations.
According to NHL PR, last Saturday’s fiery contest between Canada and the United States drew in 10.1 million viewers across North America, making the broadcast more viewed than any non-Stanley Cup Final game since 2014.
It also represents a 203% increase over the last time the teams met, back in 2016 in the group stage of the World Cup of Hockey. Canada took that contest 5-3 en route to winning the tournament.
In Canada alone, the game drew in 4.75 million viewers, beating the numbers for Canada’s match against Croatia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and earning nearly half of this year’s Super Bowl, per Adam Seaborn.
The numbers bode well for the NHL, which was betting on the 4 Nations tournament having more success than the All-Star Game that it replaced this season, which has often had trouble drawing interest.
For example, last year’s NHL All-Star Game drew in just under 1.4 million viewers in the United States, down 7 percent from the year before. Compare that to last Saturday’s game which drew in 4.4 million viewers in the US, peaking at 5.2. Not to mention, ESPN reports the numbers are a 369 percent improvement over ABC’s average NHL broadcast this season, proving the value of international competition.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid opened the scoring for Canada in front of a roaring Bell Centre crowd last Saturday. The United States responded with back-to-back goals and added a late empty netter to take it 3-1, earning their spot in the final. McDavid once again opened the scoring Tuesday as Canada beat Finland 5-3 to set up the rematch in the championship game.
Canada and the United States will take to the ice this Thursday at 6 pm MST from Boston’s TD Garden. A high-stakes rematch of last weekend’s electric contest, the game is sure to draw in many more eyeballs across North America.

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