4 Nations Face-Off Archives - Awful Announcing

NHL reportedly canceling 2026 All-Star Game, pivoting to international event

After lots of discussion of the future of the NHL All-Star Game, the league will indeed cancel it in favor of an international event in 2026.

The league's regular season audiences averaged 445,000 viewers across its national broadcast partners.

The Blue Jackets-Red Wings Stadium Series game in Columbus was ESPN's most watched regular season game since winning back NHL rights in 2021.

ESPN's Sean McDonough says the 4 Nations Face-Off was among the greatest sporting events that he has ever called.

"No sport that I know of has more lucky scores than hockey."

"The talking heads were talking their heads off."

"I am therefore making him a 'free agent,' because I don’t want anyone in Canada to say anything bad about him."

All four national window games last weekend posted year-over-year increases.

"I don't think we ever see 4 Nations again."

Canadian radio host Tony Marinaro posed as "Curly in Boston" in a prank call to brag about Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off win over the USA.

"The closest thing to healthy tribalism in the NFL is college football."

"The idea that the NBA is getting put down and denigrated because of what the NHL did. I don't get it."

The USA-Canada 4 Nations championship game surpassed all expectations by drawing 9.2 million viewers Thursday night on ESPN.

"I really believe that after this, we have to consider doing this or something like this in place of it."

"You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game."

"They were playing harder because of the tariffs and they didn’t want to be the 51st state. That’s motivation."

Cuthbert was on the Canadian call for both Sidney Crosby's 2010 goal and Connor McDavid's 2025 one.

"It's a great game. It's a great sport. And I hope we put on a good show these last couple days and gained some fans."

Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk changed the "O Canada" lyrics from "In all of us command" to "that only us command."

"I've played in some really big games..."

"You are the perfect example of why people of color haven’t progressed at the highest levels of society."

"You got to show up. You got to take that on. I’m sick and tired of making athletes greats, all-time greats, that aren’t the best examples!"

"It puts it into perspective of the opportunity that these guys have."

Canada and the United States renew their rivalry twice within a week in the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off tonight on ESPN and Sportsnet.