‘Pretty Special Feeling’: Eichel, Stone Talk 4 Nations Face-Off Final

“It’s been a while since I’ve donned these colors.”

Vegas Golden Knights star center Jack Eichel is preparing for the 4 Nations Face-Off final tomorrow night. It’ll be a rematch of Team USA against Canada, exactly as God intended. Eichel understands just how much this tournament means to the players involved.

“For a lot of guys on the US team, I know we’ve come through the US National Development Program,” said Eichel. “When you go through that Program, with what it instills in you, and how much it means to be able to do it, you take a lot out of it. That’s where a lot of the pride in representing your country comes from at a young age. As you get older, and you get to do it less frequently… You never want to take it for granted.”

Eichel, of course, spent two years with the US National Development Program, as did his teammate in Vegas, Noah Hanifin. In fact, of the 23 players initially named to Team USA’s roster, 15 came through the US National Development Program. Only Chris Kreider, Jake Guentzel, Kyle Connor, Vincent Trocheck, Brock Nelson, Jaccob Slavin, Connor Hellebuyck, and Jeremy Swayman did not.

Jack Eichel is no stranger to representing Team USA internationally– he’s done it seven times throughout his career. But it’s been a long time.

Due to injury, COVID, and playoff runs, the 4 Nations Face-Off is Eichel’s first time back in the red, white, and blue since May of 2019.

Between December 2012 and May 2015, Eichel represented the USA in five different tournaments. He appeared in the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, the IIHF U18 World Championship in 2013 and 2014, the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship in 2014, and the 2015 IIHF World Championship. He also represented the USA at the IIHF World Championship in 2017 and 2019 and played for Team North America in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

It’s worth mentioning that this is just the second time Eichel has participated in a true best-on-best international tournament. Since the first time was the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, this is the first time he’s faced off against Canada in a best-on-best tournament.

On the other side of the rivalry, Vegas Golden Knights Captain Mark Stone has never had the chance to appear in a best-on-best tournament. He represented Canada at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship and at the IIHF World Championship in 2016 and 2019.

But the IIHF World Championship isn’t best-on-best hockey. The tournament is held in May while the Stanley Cup Playoffs are still ongoing.

“A lot of us on both sides have had the chance to represent our country, just not in a best-on-best format,” said Eichel.

NHL players last participated in the Olympic Games in 2014 in Sochi. Since then, the only best-on-best tournament was the World Cup of Hockey held in 2016. It’s been nine years since NHL players had the opportunity to represent their countries in best-on-best hockey.

For many players involved, the opportunities to represent their countries are the most important games of their lives. Some players never get the chance to compete for a Stanley Cup. Even some Stanley Cup Champions say that representing their country takes the cake.

“It means the world. You’re representing your country,” said Jack Eichel. “This is huge. It’s the biggest game I’ve played in quite some time. Maybe ever. I’m really looking forward to it. I think everyone in the room is looking forward to it. That’s what we wanted, right?”

Eichel understands the magnitude of tomorrow’s 4 Nations Face-Off final between the US and Canada. He knows it’s more than a rivalry matchup; it’s also a way to grow the game.

“When you’re representing your country, you’re playing for the entire nation,” said Eichel. “The average fan takes a lot of pride in this game. The person who doesn’t watch hockey as much, they take a lot of pride in this game as well.”

Mark Stone says that growing the game of hockey is a big part of why players appreciate participating in these international best-on-best tournaments.

“I think there’s so many people that if you just show them hockey for the first time, they’re fascinated by it,” said Stone. “If we can get more people following the game, enjoying the game… I think this is why guys want to play in these events. It’s special hockey; it’s unique hockey. You have 85 or 90 of the best players in the world getting together to compete for their countries. It’s a pretty special feeling.”

NHL players will finally return to the Winter Olympics next year in February of 2026. Stone acknowledges that players are excited for the Olympic Games, but scoffed at the idea that they might not take the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament seriously.

“I think [the 4 Nations Face-Off] is a build-up to the Olympics, but for people to think this wasn’t going to be a competitive tournament is kind of mind-boggling,” said Stone. “It’s been 10 years of built-up energy to get these games underway. Tomorrow will be no different.”