23 photos of the Canada - USA hockey rivalry through the years
The NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off has been an incredible success in lieu of an All-Star Game this year and the international tournament is set to conclude with a highly-anticipated matchup between USA and Canada.
The two teams met just days ago in Montreal with fans booing the U.S. anthem followed by the Americans and Canadians fighting three times in the first nine seconds. Team USA won that game 3-1.
Now the two bitter rivals meet in Boston for the tournament championship on Thursday. It’ the perfect time to throw on Free Bird and relive some of the best moments in international play between Canada and the United States caught on film.
Team USA’s John LeClair (C) celebrates his first period goal against Canada with teammates Mike Modano (R), Chris Chelios (L) and Pat LaFontaine during game two of the World Cup of Hockey finals in Montreal, September 12, 1996.
USA goalie Mike Richter makes a pad save on Canada’s Wayne Gretzky as USA’s Gary Suter defends during second period action in the final game of the World Cup September 14, 1996. The United States scored the trying and go-ahead goals 43 seconds apart late in the third period and poured in two more in a 5-2 win over Canada to claim the World Cup Championship.
(L-R) Gary Suter, Chris Chelios, Aaron Miller, and Brian Rafalski of
the United States stand with their silver medals during the ceremony on
the ice after Canada defeated the United States 5-2 to win the gold
medal in men’s ice hockey at the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games in
Salt Lake City, February 24, 2002. It was Canada’s first Olympic men’s
ice hockey gold medal in 50 years. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn
Forward Jarome Iginla of Canada (R) celebrates after a first period
goal as teammate Simon Gagne (L) throws his arms up with USA goalie
Mike Richter (35) and teammate Gary Suter (20) in the crease trying to
defend, during the gold medal game in men’s ice hockey at the Salt Lake
2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, February 24, 2002.
REUTERS/Mike Blake
Canada’s Theo Fleury and goalie Bill Ranford celebrate after Canada defeated the USA to win the Canada cup. September 16, 1991 REUTERS/Mike Blake
16 Feb 1998: Mike Modano of the USA faces off with Joe Sakic of Canada during the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. Canada won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport
16 Feb 1998: Gary Suter of the USA shakes hands with Wayne Gretzky of Canada during the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. Canada won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport
24 Feb 2002: Team USA players Chris Drury #18, Keith Tkachuk #7, Bill Guerin #13 and Gary Suter #20 watch as team Canada celebrates their victory, having defeated the USA, 5-2, in the men’s gold medal game at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games at the E Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
SALT LAKE CITY – FEBRUARY 24: Defenseman Tom Poti #5 of the USA shoots the puck past forward Paul Kariya #9 of Canada who tries to block the shot from his knees during the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games on February 24, 2002 at the E Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Canada defeated the USA 5-2. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
MONTREAL – AUGUST 31: Mario Lemieux #66 of team Canada and Steve Konowalchuk of team USA keep each other in check during the third period of their game in the World Cup of Hockey on August 31, 2004 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. Canada defeated USA 2-1. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – FEBRUARY 28: Sidney Crosby #87 of Canada celebrates after scoring the matchwinning goal in overtime whilst dejected Team USA players look on during the ice hockey men’s gold medal game between USA and Canada on day 17 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Canada Hockey Place on February 28, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – FEBRUARY 28: Dejected Team USA players look on after Sidney Crosby #87 of Canada (not in photo) scored the match-winning goal in overtime in the ice hockey men’s gold medal game between USA and Canada on day 17 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Canada Hockey Place on February 28, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. Canada defeated USA 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Canadian forward Sidney Crosby (87) and Canadian defence Scott Niedermayer (27)jubilates as their team wins gold against the USA in the Men’s Gold Medal Hockey match at the Canada Hockey Place during the XXI Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada on February 28, 2010. Canada beat the USA 3-2 to win gold. AFP PHOTO / YURI KADOBNOV (Photo credit should read YURI KADOBNOV/AFP via Getty Images)
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 21: The Canada bench looks on as the seconds run out during the Men’s Ice Hockey Semifinal Playoff against the United States on Day 14 of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 21, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
US Ryan Suter (20) reacts to the team’s 0-1 defeat to Canada in the Men’s Ice Hockey Semifinals USA vs Canada at the Bolshoy Ice Dome during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 21, 2014. AFP PHOTO / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND (Photo credit should read JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)
Canada’s Jamie Benn (L) vies with US Phil Kessel during the Men’s Ice Hockey Semifinals USA vs Canada at the Bolshoy Ice Dome during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 21, 2014. Canada won 0-1. AFP PHOTO / ALEXANDER NEMENOV (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images)
SOCHI, RUSSIA – FEBRUARY 21: Detailed view of the helmet of Jonathan Quick #32 of the United States as he tends the net against Canada during the Men’s Ice Hockey Semifinal Playoff on Day 14 of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 21, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 20: John Tavares #20 of Team Canada celebrates his second-period goal by Patrice Bergeron #37 with Sidney Crosby #87 while playing Team USA during the World Cup of Hockey at the Air Canada Center on September 20, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Canadian goalkeeper Patrick Roy (2nd R) finds himself behind his goal after chasing a loose puck during Canada’s Olympic final round game against the US at the Big Hat in Nagano 16 February, 1998. Looking on are Mike Modano (L) of the US, Canadian Adam Foote (2nd L) and an unidentified US player (R). AFP PHOTO/OLIVIER MORIN (Photo by Olivier MORIN and – / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER MORIN/AFP via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, CANADA – FEBRUARY 15: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of Team USA fights with Brandon Hagel #38 of Team Canada during the first period in the 4 Nations Face-Off game at the Bell Centre on February 15, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, CANADA – FEBRUARY 15: Brandon Hagel #38 of Team Canada gestures to the crowd following a first period fight against Matthew Tkachuk #19 of Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off game at the Bell Centre on February 15, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, CANADA – FEBRUARY 15: Brady Tkachuk #7 of Team USA and Sam Bennett #9 of Team Canada fight during the first period in the 4 Nations Face-Off game at the Bell Centre on February 15, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, CANADA – FEBRUARY 15: Dylan Larkin #21 of Team USA celebrates his goal against Team Canada at 13:33 of the second period on an assist from Matt Boldy #12 of Team USA (l) in the 4 Nations Face-Off game at the Bell Centre on February 15, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, CANADA – FEBRUARY 15: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of Team USA and Brandon Hagel #38 of Team Canada fight in the first period during the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off at the Bell Centre on February 15, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Team USA defeated Team Canada 3-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)