Hockey Canada 2025 National Teams Orientation Camp doubled this week as a long-awaited reunion for the group that captured the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this year.
Twenty-three of the 24 players from that championship roster were in attendance, with goaltender Adin Hill the only absence. It marked the first time the team had gathered since Connor McDavid’s overtime winner secured a 3-2 victory over the United States in the Feb. 20 final at TD Garden.
“It was a very exciting moment to see each other,” defenseman Drew Doughty told NHL.com on Thursday. “It was like a big bro hug. Like, man, what a time we had at 4 Nations. That’s definitely carrying over, no doubt about it.”
That tournament, played under high-pressure conditions, forged instant chemistry between Canada’s stars and their coaches. At the camp, many said the familiarity they built will provide a crucial edge ahead of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina.
“Getting into that environment where you have to come together quickly, put together a plan that you’ve got to execute, having that familiarity, it just helps,” forward Brayden Point said. “We have been together before. We’ve played games together, and in a pretty high-intense environment. That will be big.”
With much of the Olympic roster likely to come from the 4 Nations squad, Canada’s early momentum could prove invaluable as they prepare to chase gold on the biggest stage.
