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A14 SPORTS
Monday 10 February 2025
4 Nations Face-Off ends hockey's long wait for an international

tournament with the NHL's best

By STEPHEN WHYNO Wednesday night, with the
AP Hockey Writer U.S. and Finland playing 24
It has been more than a hours later. Sweden-Finland
decade since the NHL last and U.S.-Canada follow on
participated in the Olympics Saturday before the action
and almost nine years since shifts to Montreal.
the league's top players took A regulation win is worth three
part in an international tour- points, a shootout or overtime
nament. That wait is about to win is worth two points and
end when the puck drops on a shootout or overtime loss
the 4 Nations Face-Off involv- is one point.
ing the United States, Cana- The fun
da, Sweden and Finland. The After the NHL skipped the
slimmed-down event taking 2018 Pyeongchang Games
place in Montreal and Bos- and pulled out of the 2022
ton lacks history, tradition and Beijing Games because of
some of the top talent from pandemic-related schedul-
elsewhere on Earth, but the ing issues, the league, union,
prolonged gap between the International Ice Hockey
2016 World Cup of Hockey Federation and International
and this makes it a must- Olympic Committee struck
see, premier showcase of a deal for players to go to
the sport. Milan in 2026 and the French
"It's been a while," U.S. cap- Team Canada's Sidney Crosby celebrates after scoring against Team Russia during the first period Alps in 2030. The 4 Nations
tain Auston Matthews said. of a World Cup of Hockey semifinal game, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 in Toronto. Associated Press provides a chance to see
"It's something that the play- how players handle a high-
ers have been craving and to be a part of it. it."Sweden has 2020 playoff injury and is being replaced stakes competition, but those
looking forward to, and I think "When you put guys together MVP and two-time Stanley by fellow defenseman Nikolas involved don't see it as just
the fans, as well. I think it's go- representing their countries, Cup champion Victor Hed- Matinpalo. a prep tournament for the
ing to be great for the game." I think it brings out the best man. Finland has reigning The format next Olympics.
The talent in them," said Crosby, who Cup-winning captain Alek- Unlike the Olympics, there isn't "When that puck drops on the
Matthews in red, white and helped Canada win Olym- sander Barkov, who was very a surefire spot in the quarter- first game of the tournament,
blue alongside Jack Eichel pic gold in 2010 and 2014. early in his career when he finals of an elimination tour- zero people will be thinking
and Matthew Tkachuk. Sid- "If you look at the rosters, I helped his country take home nament this time, so every about the Olympics and ev-
ney Crosby, Connor McDavid think there's a lot to get ex- bronze in Sochi 11 years ago. game matters. Each team erybody will be thinking — on
and Nathan MacKinnon suit- cited about when you look "I remember every single faces one another in round- our team anyway — about
ing up with Canada's Maple at that and you look at the moment there," said Barkov, robin play, with the top two winning the hockey game,"
Leaf on their chests. Sweden matchups and best on best — who's one of eight Florida meeting in the championship. Cooper said. "I don't think at
and Finland renewing the everyone competing against Panthers players at the 4 "I truly believe this is a tourna- one time anybody's going to
Scandinavian nations' intense each other internationally. Nations. "We've been talk- ment where you're basically sit here and say, 'This is a step-
rivalry.Everything from the star For people that are hockey ing about this tournament playing three Game 7s," Can- ping stone for the Olympics.'"
power to the format to the fans, that's what you love to for a long time. Now it's here." ada coach Jon Cooper said. That's what the next 10
anticipation of a return to the see. I think for that reason Finland announced Sunday "There's no, really, margin for months or so are for. Men's
Olympics in Milan in 2026 has alone and the fact that it's that Philadelphia's Rasmus error." Canada and Swe- hockey in Milan begins on
players and coaches thrilled been a while will just add to Ristolainen is out because of den open the tournament Feb. 11, 2026.q

A step too far? Experimental long jump
change makes its debut at ISTAF indoor meet

at the ISTAF indoor meet saying it will cut down on science of hitting the sweet
on Sunday when two-time the number of fouls. spot on the board at top
world champion Malaika "The momentum is much speed for a far leap.
Mihambo won under the better, as if you're jumping Distances were also mea-
new rule. with just half a foot from the sured according to the tra-
Mihambo jumped 6.87 me- board," Mihambo said of ditional method from the
ters on her fourth attempt in the new take-off area. end of the board for the of-
the absence of most of her Sweet spot ficial world rankings. Dutch
international rivals, add- The take-off zone is 40 cen- athlete Pauline Hondema
ing to the German's wins timeters long, compared jumped furthest using the
at meets in Dortmund and to the take-off board's 20, traditional measurement
Karlsruhe this year. and every jump from the with a jump of 6.65, ahead
Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo of Germany jumps from It was her first win using a zone is measured from the of Poland's Anna Matusze-
the new look 40 centimetres Take-Off Zone, developed by new-look take-off zone athlete's take-off point with wicz (6.40). Mihambo was
World Athletics to reduce the number of invalid jumps during rather than the take-off the aid of cameras, as op- third with her only valid
the long jump competition at the ISTAF athletics indoor meeting board that has been the posed to the traditional jump under the previous
in Duesseldorf, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025.
Associated Press norm in this event. Sunday method of measuring system of 6.39.
marked the first time the jumps from the end of the Like Mihambo, her coach,
DÜSSELDORF, Germany perimental change to the rule was tested on a larger board. The change elimi- Uli Knapp, was also in favor
(AP) — World Athletics' ex- long jump made its debut stage, with its proponents nates some of the art and of the new rule.q