Anticipation Builds as USA and Canada Clash in 4 Nations Championship

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Wild defenseman Jake Middleton found himself anxiously glued to his seat on a plane Saturday night, eagerly watching the thrilling start of the Canada-United States matchup at the 4 Nations Face-Off. His excitement mirrored the intensity of the game, which featured three fights in the first nine seconds during the Americans’ decisive 3-1 victory.

“My heart rate was probably a buck-80 (180) watching that in the air,” Middleton said.

As the Wild prepare for their own showdown against Canada in Thursday’s highly anticipated rematch, emotions run high not only on the ice but within the team’s dressing room. Forward Marcus Foligno, reacting to the weekend’s match, expressed the exhilaration that such intense games can bring.

“It got the blood boiling,” Foligno said. “I don’t know if you’ll see that again Thursday. But you’ll see that emotion. That’s what is so great about this.”

Canadian-born players on the Wild, including goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, are torn as they support their teammates who represent Team USA. Fleury, a Montreal native and gold medalist from the 2010 Winter Olympics, voiced his dual loyalties while wishing success for Wild teammates Matt Boldy and Brock Faber.

“I’m rooting for Canada, of course,” Fleury said. “But I’m also proud of the guys who are playing for Team USA.”

Foligno, who holds dual citizenship with Canada and the United States, described his unique position: “This is a win-win situation for me. I’m celebrating no matter what,” he said with a laugh. “Hopefully, Team Canada can win.”

Foligno’s strong Canadian ties come through his parents, Mike and Janis, who hail from Sudbury, Ontario. Born in Buffalo, New York, Foligno spent part of his childhood in Canada, where he developed his hockey career and played for Canada in the 2011 World Junior Championships.

Although he could have been an option for Team USA, Foligno noted, “It felt natural that Canada called, and I was able to play.”

Looking ahead to potential future competitions, Foligno joked about acquiring an Italian passport to compete with his brother Nick in the 2026 Olympics in Milan. “Who would have drawn that up? Two Foligno boys playing on that team in Italy in the Olympics,” he said, recalling his childhood dreams with a chuckle.

Though the Wild are missing several key players due to their participation in the tournament, they resumed practice Tuesday with energy and focus. The team is gearing up for the final push in the season, following a successful stretch where they won five of their last seven games.

“The vitamin D was great in Mexico,” Foligno quipped after returning from vacation. “Mentally reset, we all know what’s at stake in the next 26 games or so. It’s a sprint now.”

Associate coach Jack Capuano led the intense practice sessions, focusing on both offensive and defensive strategies in preparation for the games ahead.

“It’s tough when you go into a break for so long,” Capuano said. “As a coaching staff, you’ve got to be careful on the workouts you give them. But the last couple of days, the guys were dialed in, they were detailed. Good execution. Good pace. And they worked hard.”

The Wild will expect to integrate the returning players from the 4 Nations, including Filip Gustavsson, Jonas Brodin, and Joel Eriksson Ek, back into the team before facing the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

Meanwhile, superstar Kirill Kaprizov continues to recover from lower-body surgery, with uncertainty surrounding his return. Capuano mentioned that there have been no recent developments regarding Kaprizov’s skating progress.

“He hasn’t skated at all,” said Capuano, referencing the timeline of four weeks post-surgery. “Hopefully, when John (Hynes) and Bill (Guerin) get back, they can give you an update next week.”

Additionally, prospect Danila Yurov is undergoing surgery but is expected to return for the KHL playoffs after missing some games due to a lower-body injury.