From the hands of Connor McDavid to the heart of Victoria – the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy is coming to town.
The trophy from February’s thrilling Canada vs. U.S. final will be on display Tuesday, July 29, at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
The 4 Nations Face-Off was a best-on-best international tournament co-hosted by Montreal and Boston.
Featuring NHL stars from Canada, the U.S., Sweden, and Finland, it replaced the usual All-Star break – and delivered far more excitement.
With 16.1 million viewers across North America, Connor McDavid’s golden goal lifted Canada to a 3-2 victory in the final, setting the stage for NHL players’ return to the Olympics in 2026 – the first time since 2014.
McDavid’s goal drew many parallels to Canada’s 3-2 overtime win over the U.S. for Olympic gold in Vancouver 2010, when Sidney Crosby scored the game-winner.
So how did Victoria get in on the action?
That’s thanks to the Victoria City Police Athletic Association (VCPAA) – a dedicated group of Victoria Police officers running sports programs to connect with youth across the region. They organize everything from basketball and golf events to road hockey tournaments and, most recently, NHL Street.
Since launching in 2023, NHL Street Victoria has grown steadily.
This year’s edition drew 200 kids from Greater Victoria – up from 180 last year and 140 in its first season.
The VCPAA partnered with VicPD and the Victoria Royals, with support from the Victoria Fire Department throughout the NHL Street season.
With that growth, organizers wanted to do something special.
“Honestly, I just thought, ‘why not try something big?’” said Cst. Mandeep Sohi, one of six VCPAA volunteers running the program. “We’ve seen a real uptick in participation, and we’re excited the momentum keeps building each year.”
Sohi helped lead the effort to bring the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy to Victoria.
“We wanted to reward the kids and families for helping us grow the league,” he said. “Seeing the kids enjoy a sport that means so much to our country – right in our backyard – I think they’re going to love it.”
And they won’t be the only ones. The public is welcome to see the trophy between 5 and 7:30 p.m. at the main entrance of Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
