get ready for some exciting news! The NHL is planning an international hockey tournament in February 2025, but with a twist. Instead of the usual World Cup of Hockey, this event will feature just four national teams: the U.S., Canada, Sweden, and Finland. The goal is to stage an international tournament ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. The NHL and NHLPA are working together to make it happen, and they’re hoping to establish a regular rotation between the Olympics and the World Cup every other year. The next World Cup of Hockey is expected in 2028, with the vision of having a World Cup every four years and in between Winter Olympic tournaments.
The NHL has faced challenges in planning this tournament, including the impact of COVID, changes in executive leadership in the players’ association, and the global political climate. One major issue has been how to include Russian-born players in the tournament, especially with the IIHF banning Russia and Belarus from competing in tournaments through 2024. The NHL had considered allowing Russian players to compete under a neutral name and flag, but other countries were not in favour of this approach. As a result, the 2025 tournament will not include any Russian players and will be limited to just four nations.
The proposed format for the tournament involves the U.S. and Canada playing two games in North America, while Sweden and Finland would play two games in either of those two nations. The winners of those matchups would then face off in the semifinals, leading to the tournament championship. The entire tournament is expected to last around a week, and the NHL would pause games during the event. The format and location of the games are still being finalized, with the possibility of holding the entire tournament in one location.
For hockey fans, this means that the eagerly awaited ‘best on best’ international tournament will have to wait. Players like Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, Auston Matthews, and others will have to hold off on representing their countries in this showcase tournament. The hope is that over time, the World Cup will evolve into a more inclusive event. While the 2025 tournament may not be the ‘best on best’ competition, it’s still an exciting opportunity to see top national teams in action.
So, mark your calendars for February 2025 and get ready to cheer for your favourite national teams as they battle it out on the ice!