You would think that the United States-Canada rivalry is what it is because of the players. They’re the ones in the middle of the action, after all.
But the one stirring the pot in the Vegas Golden Knights’ locker room hasn’t been Jack Eichel or Noah Hanifin on the U.S. side. Nor Mark Stone, Shea Theodore or Mitch Marner on Canada.
Coach Bruce Cassidy is the culprit.
The story dates to last summer when Cassidy hosted an annual charity golf tournament in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Boston natives Eichel and Hanifin were there.
Cassidy decided to use a ball marker for his first shot. Ball markers are usually coins or something of a similar size. Any object, really, can be used as one.
Cassidy broke out his 4 Nations gold medal instead.
Eichel, on his ensuing shot, nearly hit the water.
It might be friendly banter. It could be mind games.
The expectation come Feb. 22, the day of the Winter Olympics gold medal game in Milan, is that the U.S. and Canada will meet again. Anything short of that for both sides would be a failure.
The Knights will be well represented. Eichel and Hanifin will aim to help the U.S. capture its first gold medal since the Miracle on Ice team in 1980. Stone, Theodore, Marner and Cassidy hope to recapture the 4 Nations magic and secure a third gold for Canada since 2010.
Canada and Team USA begin preliminary play Thursday. Canada will face Knights center Tomas Hertl and Czechia, while the U.S. plays Latvia.
“Last year was a good taste of it,” Hanifin said.
Setting the stage
The first 4 Nations meeting between Team USA and Canada was the most highly anticipated matchup in more than a decade. It was the first time best-on-best competition was brought to the international stage since NHL players last participated in the Olympics in 2014.
Taking place over the All-Star Game, the 4 Nations Face-Off exceeded all expectations. The championship match, which Canada won 3-2 in overtime against the U.S., was viewed by 16.1 million viewers in North America. The United States alone carried 9.3 million.
It was the most-viewed, non-NFL game ever on ESPN+.
“It was great. I think everyone could see that,” Marner said. “It was a pretty special event. I think a lot of people didn’t know what was going to happen in that event, how people were going to compete, in a way. I think people thought it was going to be just like an all-star event or something like that. Obviously it turned into a lot bigger event. We got a lot of eyes on us from different places, which is what we wanted to do with hockey.”
The rivalry has been one-sided. Including the 4 Nations win, the United States hasn’t defeated Canada in a significant best-on-best event in 30 years. The 1996 World Cup of Hockey was the last time the U.S. had bragging rights.
Since then, it’s been all Canada — winning the gold in Salt Lake City against the U.S. in 2002, then again in 2010 on the famous golden goal from Sidney Crosby in Vancouver.
The silver medal in 2010 is the last time the U.S. finished in the top three.
Canada went back-to-back in 2014 by defeating Sweden. Team USA lost in the bronze medal game to Finland.
“I think both teams and countries realize how close it is,” Hanifin said. “Not only that — you know how good the Swedes are, the Finns are, Czechs, there’s other teams now and you just have to take care of it. I think for us, we know what we’re capable of. We know we’re right there at the top.”
Can the U.S. break through?
Eichel has had the luxury of not needing to think about the Olympics until now. He was one of the first six named to Team USA in June. He’s had the advantage of letting his wife, Erin, handle the logistics of getting their families to Italy while focusing on helping the Knights get back on track before the break.
When asked what would playing in the Olympics mean to him, Eichel knocked on the wooden seat of his locker.
“I haven’t done it yet,” he said. “It’s something I’ve dreamed of as a little kid. I always wanted to represent my country. I think when the movie ‘Miracle’ came out, I think I was 8 years old. Ever since watching that, it’s always been a dream to have an opportunity to represent our country in the Olympics, and I think as I’ve gotten older and understood what the Olympics means and how much of an honor it is, it means even that much more.”
Should the U.S. win the gold medal, is he taking it with him to Cassidy’s next charity golf tournament?
“I don’t know what I’ll do,” Eichel said, laughing. “It’s a long ways away. We’ll see in a month.”
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
Up next
Who: Latvia vs. United States
What: Winter Olympics
When: 12:10 p.m. Thursday
Where: Santagiulia Arena, Milan
TV: USA, Peacock
Line: USA -3,125; total 6½