The rivalry between Canada and the USA in hockey is one of the most intense and storied in the world of sports. It stretches over plenty of time, but with political tensions between the two countries, it's now hotter than ever before. For both genders and all age groups, Canada-United States games are among the most important in international hockey. Hockey is by far the most competitive sport between the two countries.
The two teams have been close rivals since the early days of international hockey, facing each other for the gold medal at the first Olympic hockey tournament in 1920. However, during the 1991 Canada Cup, American defenseman Gary Suter cross-checked and injured Canadian superstar Wayne Gretzky, creating a feeling of animosity among Canadian fans.
Historical Context of the Rivalry
For both countries, the Soviet Union was often the common rival in most international competitions before 1991. However, since the fall of the Soviet Union, the two neighboring countries have been more heated rivals, especially in winter sports where the talent pools of the two countries are more evenly matched. In the run-up to the 1998 Winter Olympics, Los Angeles Times columnist Mike Penner named Canada the United States' most important rival, especially in hockey. In the Winter Olympics, both the United States and Canada have won the medal table once, while the United States is ranked second in the all-time Winter Olympic table, with Canada ranked fifth.
Based on results in Olympics, World Championships, and other major competitions for respective sports, the United States is more successful than Canada in American football, baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf, swimming, athletics, boxing, lacrosse, shooting, diving, wrestling, rowing, gymnastics, sailing, cycling, weightlifting, water polo, archery, equestrian, volleyball, beach volleyball, fencing, triathlon, judo, taekwondo, figure skating, snowboarding, speed skating, alpine skiing, and bobsleigh among others, while Canada is better all time in ice hockey, curling and rugby.
It was considered a major upset when Canada defeated the United States in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, which some commentators called a "Miracle on Dirt", a reference to the Miracle on Ice when the United States national hockey team beat the Soviet Union in 1980.
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In summer sports, the Canada-United States rivalry is more muted as the United States dominates. The United States' closest rival at the Summer Olympics is now China. In the Summer Olympics, the United States has won the medal count 19 times, compared to zero for Canada. The United States is ranked number 1 in the all-time Summer Olympic medal table, while Canada is ranked number 20.
Key Moments in the Hockey Rivalry
In 1996, the United States won a victory during a best-on-best men's tournament by defeating Canada at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey on Canadian soil in Montreal. Canada took revenge by beating the United States for the Gold again at the 2002 Olympics on American soil in Salt Lake City. During their next Olympic match, Canada defeated the United States in a gold medal game at the 2010 Olympics on Canadian soil in Vancouver, after the United States shocked Canada in the group stage of the tournament. The two teams faced off against each other in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi's semi-final for the right to go to the gold medal game, which Canada once again won.
Most recently, the United States and Canada faced off against each other in the 2022 Olympics in the group stage, which the United States won 4-2. The United States beat Canada in their next best on best competition, with the United States beating Canada 3-1 in Montreal in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. During the same tournament, Canadian fans booed "The Star-Spangled Banner" in response to the 2025 United States trade war with Canada and Mexico as well as President Trump's pro-American annexation rhetoric. Canada and the United States faced each other again in the final round of the same 4 Nations Face-Off tournament on February 20, 2025, with Canada defeating the United States 3-2 in overtime.
The two countries are perennial rivals at the World Junior Championships for players under 20 years of age. Overall, Canada holds a total of 20 gold medals, while the United States holds seven gold medals. Canada and the United States have faced each other in the championship game of nearly every Olympics and World Championships since the beginning of international play. A few of Canada's and the United States' losses have been to teams outside their rivalry. After an American victory during the 1998 Nagano Olympics, the Canadian Olympic team won the next four gold medals; the United States won the most recent gold medal after a penalty shootout in the 2018 final. The United States has won 4 championships in a row.
During the 2002 United States vs. Canada ice hockey match for women's gold, Canada won.
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USA vs. Canada All-Time Results In Best-On-Best Competitions
Looking back through the history books, Canada dominates the all-time series between the two teams when NHL players have been involved, but USA has shown signs of life. Still, Canada has won the most recent best-on-best Olympics and the last World Cup of Hockey.
Here's a breakdown of USA vs. Canada all-time results in best-on-best competitions:
| Competition | Result |
|---|---|
| 1976 Canada Cup | Canada 4, USA 2 |
| 1981 Canada Cup | Canada 8, USA 3 (Round-Robin) |
| 1981 Canada Cup | Canada 4, USA 1 (semifinals) |
| 1984 Canada Cup | Canada 4, USA 4 |
| 1987 Canada Cup | Canada 3, USA 2 |
| 1991 Canada Cup | Canada 6, USA 3 |
| 1991 Canada Cup | Canada 4, USA 1 (Best-Of-3 Final) |
| 1991 Canada Cup | Canada 4, USA 2 (Best-Of-3 Final) |
| 1996 World Cup of Hockey | USA 5, Canada 3 |
| 1996 World Cup of Hockey | Canada 4, USA 3 OT (Best-of-3 Final Game 1) |
| 1996 World Cup of Hockey | USA 5, Canada 2 (Best-of-3 Final Game 2) |
| 1996 World Cup of Hockey | USA 5, Canada 2 (Best-of-3 Final Game 3) |
| 1998 Winter Olympics | Canada 4, USA 1 |
| 2002 Winter Olympics | Canada 5, USA 2 (Gold-Medal Game) |
| 2004 World Cup of Hockey | Canada 2, USA 1 |
| 2010 Winter Olympics | USA 5, Canada 3 |
| 2010 Winter Olympics | Canada 3, USA 2 OT (Gold-Medal Game) |
| 2014 Winter Olympics | Canada 1, USA 0 (semifinals) |
| 2016 World Cup of Hockey | Canada 4, USA 2 |
| 2025 4 Nations Face-Off | USA 3, Canada 1 |
The 4 Nations Face-Off: A New Chapter
But that brings us to the present day, where nearly a decade of missed opportunity plus a heated political landscape has brought the best rivalry in hockey to a new level, and that criticism is no more.
The 4 Nations Face-Off will finish exactly how the National Hockey League drew it up: a USA-Canada final. The two squads battled it out on Saturday in what was their first meeting in a best-on-best format in nine years, and a raucous Montreal crowd that booed "The Star-Spangled Banner" was delivered an immediate treat with three fights in the first nine seconds, including two in the first three.
Beginning this month, as a response to President Donald Trump's impending tariffs against Canada on goods, Canadian crowds have booed the United States' national anthem during sporting events in which an American team is visiting. When Team USA played its first 4 Nations game last Thursday against Finland, one would have thought the game was being played overseas, even though it was in Montreal.
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On the next face-off, Matthew's brother, Brady, fought Sam Bennett, who is teammates with Matthew for the Florida Panthers. Then, six seconds later, after a goalie stoppage, J.T. Miller threw hands with Colton Parayko. The already electric crowd was on fire, and even more so when Canada's Connor McDavid opened up the scoring in the first period. However, Team USA's defense showed up, and the Americans scored three unanswered goals to take home their first win against Canada in nearly 15 years. The game garnered an average of 4.4 million viewers, the most-watched non-Stanley Cup hockey game since 2019.
Now, the two teams will go at it once again, this time in Boston for what is the hottest ticket in town. The get-in price on StubHub is over $1,000, it's the best-selling NHL-sanctioned game of the season, and fans from 28 countries are buying tickets to the spectacle.
Team USA has not won back-to-back contests against Canada since that 1996 series. The United States beat Canada in their next best on best competition, with the United States beating Canada 3-1 in Montreal in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.
Fights and Intensity
The 4 Nations Face-Off game between Team USA and Team Canada began with jeers, cheers and a lot of fighting. Team USA and Florida Panthers right winger Matthew Tkachuk fought Team Canada and Tampa Bay Lightning left winger Brandon Hagel to start the game. Their Atlantic Division rivalry kicked up a notch on the best-on-best stage.
"I think I blacked out on it," Hagel told Sportsnet's Kyle Bukauskas at the intermission. "Just trying to get some energy in the building. He asked, and I'm not backing down from him."
The younger Tkachuk brother, Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, then fought Team Canada and Florida Panthers winger Sam Bennett. And moments later, USA and New York Rangers center J.T. Miller dropped the gloves with Canada and St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko.
The referees handed out 32 penalty minutes in the first nine seconds of the game. The six fighters each received five-minute majors. Miller received an extra two-minute minor penalty for cross-checking Parayko.
"That was the greatest start to a hockey game ever," former NHL defenseman and Sportsnet panelist Kevin Bieksa said during the first intermission.
After Connor McDavid opened the scoring, Jake Guentzel scored for Team USA to tie the game heading into the second period.
An epic showdown at the 4 Nations Face-Off on Saturday at Bell Centre in Montreal, Florida Panthers star forward Matthew Tkachuk -- who else? “I think it happened pretty organically,” Brady told ESPN's Emily Kaplan during the first intermission. “Matthew said he wanted to go first, and it just happened. After a feisty scuffle in front of Canada’s net, J.T.
“I’ve never seen a game start like that in any league on any platform in any event,” former NHL defenseman and current ESPN broadcaster P.K. Subban said. “Buckle up, strap in, there’s more.