Canada has done it! Sweet revenge has never tasted sweeter, and they served it up ice cold against Team USA. The game went down to the wire and ended on a 3-2 Canada victory in overtime thanks to the heroics of Connor McDavid. But this was not the work of a single man; this was a real-life action-packed thriller. Nathan MacKinnon kicked things off with a deep snipe past Connor Hellebuyck, only for the U.S. to clap back with a Brady Tkachuk special, set up by an oh-so-dangerous Auston Matthews move. And when Canada thought they were ready to take over the game, Jake Sanderson intervened and scored for the U.S., turning the tables.

But Canada wasn’t about to let history repeat itself. Mitch Marner set the tone, Sam Bennett sealed the deal and with six minutes left in the second, it was tied. Then came the extra time—eight minutes and eighteen seconds of real mayhem. And in a scene worthy of a script, McDavid proceeded to do what McDavid does best. In a one-on-one showdown, he called game, and scored the golden goal, and thus, Canada got redemption. The rivalry? Still alive. The bragging rights? Firmly in Canada’s hands. And now that the job’s done, one big question remains–how much did Team Canada make from their win over Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off?

And the winner of 4 Nations is Canada!

Hockey insider David Pagnotta, the big boss over at The Fourth Period, hit up X on February 12th with some juicy details about the 4 Nations payout. Dropping the news straight from the source, he shared, “Ron Hainsey confirms players are receiving an “appearance fee” for participating in the 4 Nations. The winning nation gets an addition prize fee split amongst the players.” So not only did Team Canada get to flex their dominance on the ice, but they also skated away with a little extra something in their pockets.

The exact numbers? Still a mystery. But one thing’s crystal clear—winning has never tasted this so sweet and paid this much! Yep, every player in the 4 Nations tournament is getting a little something for showing up, and the champs? They’re taking home an extra bonus. But let’s not get it twisted—this isn’t life-changing money for these guys. As Chris Johnston spilled, “Players in the 4 Nations tournament will each receive an appearance bonus. An undisclosed prize pool will also be shared among the winners. Bill Daly states that the players are playing for the love of their country, as their salary is negligible compared to what they usually earn.”

So yeah, they weren’t in it for the paycheck. This was all about pride, legacy, and putting on a show. But if there’s one thing we do know, it’s that fans showed up—and they showed out! The ticket prices? Oh, they were stacked like a power-play lineup and let’s just say the hockey fans had no problem reaching deep into their pockets.

Ticket prices are skyrocketing!

The spectators did not only come to watch the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship but also came with their wallets opened wide! This battle between Canada and the USA had ticket prices as high as those of the Super Bowl, and to be honest? The hype was so real. It was the first time for the NHL superstars from these two hockey giants for a title since the famous 2010 Olympic final in Vancouver and fans were eager to see more of it. The cheapest ticket? It had risen to $1,200, which is an increase of 450% from the early days of the tourney announcement. And for the die-hard fans ready to splurge?

Seats were selling for anywhere between $2,000 to $4,000—right in Super Bowl territory. In the world of football, the tickets for the Super Bowl LIX were becoming cheaper, but in Boston? It was hockey season and the spirit was high as the fans were eagerly waiting for the next match. And the numbers prove it—this game didn’t just sell, it dominated! StubHub confirmed it was the best-selling NHL game of the season, outpacing even the Stanley Cup Finals. The NHL decided to take the risk of eliminating the All-Star Game for this sizzling event. And it absolutely paid off.

The US-Canada match alone attracted 10 million viewers in North America as the ratings for television soared high. ESPN described it as their ‘most-watched non-Stanley Cup Final hockey broadcast since 2019’ with 4.4 million fans in the United States alone. If this was just a taste of what Milan Cortina’s Olympic hockey battle will be, then fasten your seat belts, because hockey’s best is back and the fans? They’re all in!