The hockey rivalry between the United States and Canada is one of the premier sports conflicts of all time. It’s a rivalry that is so heated that both the men’s and women’s games have their own detailed histories dating back decades.
The 2025 4 Nations Face-Off already saw an explosive USA versus Canada game in the tournament stage, featuring three fights in the first nine seconds of the game. And on Thursday night, the two teams will face off once again with the championship on the line.
So, ahead of the title match of the 4 Nations Face-Off, let’s take a look at the recent history between the United States and Canada to get ready for what is sure to be a barnburner of a game.
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Sidney Crosby scores the Golden Goal for Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics
The hockey hatred between the United States and Canada stretches far back, but the beginning of this 4 Nations Face-Off story starts in 2010 during the Olympics in Vancouver. During the group stage of the tournament, the United States bested Canada 5-3 in a shocker, giving the Americans a perfect 3-0 record in their group to finish off the stage.
However, the two teams met in the gold medal match for all the marbles, where Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins — at just 22 years old — scored what became known as the Golden Goal in overtime to beat the United States. The goal is considered one of Canada’s best sports moments of all time.
Canada knocks the United States out of the semifinals at the 2014 Winter Olympics
The United States looked to get their revenge on Canada four years later at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Being in two different groups for the preliminary round, the United States and Canada didn’t meet until the semifinals, where Canada once again got one over on the USA, shutting the Americans out 1-0.
USA faced Finland in the bronze medal match but lost 5-0. Canada won back-to-back gold medals by beating Sweden 3-0.
The United States wins a pair of gold medals over Canada at the World Juniors
After 2014, the United States were able to win two gold medals over Canada on the World Junior stage. The tournament features teams of under-20 hockey players in the biggest junior competition in the sport in North America.
When the United States faced Canada in 2017 and 2021 in the World Junior Championships, the Americans were able to come out on top for gold, including a thrilling shootout victory.
Sure, the tournaments are not best-on-best with professionals, but the wins were no doubt cathartic for the United States’ youth movement and helped carry the banner for the rivalry on the American’s side for some time.
The United States gets its revenge on Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics … kind of
Famously, the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics did not feature NHL players, which dampened the rivalry for some time. So when the United States and Canada faced off again during the preliminary round of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, things felt different. The United States won the game 4-2 over Canada, but the victory wasn’t nearly on the same level as the previous matchups.
In the end, neither the United States nor Canada won medals in the 2022 Winter Olympics, as they both fell short in the playoff round.
The 2025 4 Nations Face-Off reignites the United States vs. Canada rivalry
Between the explosive, three-fight meeting between the two teams in the round robin game and Canadian fans booing the United States’ national anthem in protest of President Donald Trump’s threats against Canada, it’s safe to say the hockey rivalry between these two countries is once again at its peak.
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Publish date : 2025-02-20 01:00:00
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