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From the boardroom to the ice: Inside the mad scramble that brought 4 Nations to life


Published on 2025-02-20 18:25:25 - Sportsnet
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  • It was just 18 months ago when the idea of the 4 Nations Face-Off was conceived among NHL executives. Ahead of the grand finale, Sportsnet's Eric Engels dives into how the hockey-altering event came to be.

The article from MSN discusses the behind-the-scenes efforts that led to the creation of the 4 Nations Face-Off, a new international hockey tournament set to feature teams from Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Finland. The initiative was spearheaded by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh, who navigated through complex negotiations involving various stakeholders like the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), national hockey federations, and the players' unions. The urgency to establish this tournament was driven by the need to fill the void left by the absence of NHL players in the Olympics and the World Cup of Hockey, which had been postponed due to various global issues including the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The article highlights the logistical challenges, the strategic planning, and the collaborative spirit required to bring this event to life, aiming to provide fans with high-quality international competition and to keep the sport vibrant on the global stage.

Read the Full Sportsnet Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nhl/from-the-boardroom-to-the-ice-inside-the-mad-scramble-that-brought-4-nations-to-life/ar-AA1ztn1w ]