Sports
4 Nations Face-Off Proves One Thing: The NHL Needs More of This
Before the puck dropped on the 4 Nations Face-Off final between the United States and Canada, it was clear that the NHL and NHLPA created a big hit with its return to best-on-best competition.
Players on both sides called Thursday’s game in Boston the biggest of their lives.
Coaches marveled at the speed and pace on display all throughout the tournament, and the 3-2 overtime win for Canada in the final was no exception.
A replacement for the NHL All-Star Game? No way.
“Anybody that thought they were going to come in here and see an all-star game was sorely, sorely mistaken,” Canada and Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper said prior to the title game. “This has been anything but. It’s been all stars, but it has not been an all-star game.”
The fans responded in a major way, with the round-robin games drawing an average of 4.6 million viewers across North America. A whopping 10.1 million watched last Saturday’s initial U.S.-Canada clash, marking the largest audience for a non-playoff game since the fourth-ever Winter Classic in 2011 at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field.
The tournament was a who’s who of NHL stars, featuring 28 different Stanley Cup-winning players, 16 winners of major league awards and six former No. 1 overall draft picks.
The likes of Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby—now a six-time champion in international best-on-best play—finally got back on the grand stage, doing anything possible for their respective nations.
Really, how could fans not respond?
“Just from a hockey purist or a hockey fan in general, it’s hard not to get excited about what we’re witnessing,” said U.S. coach Mike Sullivan, who is typically behind Crosby’s bench with the Penguins. “It’s all of the things you hope for in sports, and that’s why we love it. (The sport is) on display right now and I have to believe this tournament is going to have a lasting impact.”
Of course, it was a shining showcase of young talents like Sweden’s Leo Carlsson, the Anaheim Ducks’ No. 2 overall pick two years ago, and 22-year-old American defenseman Brock Faber of the Minnesota Wild.
And while it was not hard to imagine recent No. 1 overall picks like the Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard and San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini donning the maple leaf sweater in a future tournament like this, the real winners were those watching in awe.
In some ways, it was 1980’s Miracle on Ice all over again in terms of an impact on the sport as a whole.
“It’s pretty cool to think about the next generation and how much this might mean to them,” said U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner for the Winnipeg Jets.
After two Olympic Winter Games without NHL participation, the players—like Canadian forward and Florida Panthers alternate NHLPA rep Sam Reinhart—have advocated for this type of return for years.
What a return it was. And what an appetizer for Milano Cortina 2026 it was, too.
“It only helps the game; it only helps the league,” Reinhart said. “We both respect what each side is doing from a league and a player standpoint. We both want to push the needle forward, and that’s what an event like this is doing. Certainly a win-win.”
The international flavor will not be over following next year’s Olympics, as the NHL and NHLPA have already announced initial plans for the return of a World Cup of Hockey in 2028. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expects at least eight teams to participate in that tournament, with games possible outside of North America.
What else is on the horizon for the NHL remains to be seen. If another event like the 4 Nations Face-Off comes around, though, hockey fans certainly would not mind.
And there’s no doubt that players would fall in the same boat as well.
“It would be hard for anybody who watched this tournament not to get excited about participating in it. If you love hockey, it would be hard not to get excited about this,” Sullivan said. “It was just an incredible privilege to be a part of it, quite honestly. And the hockey might have been the best hockey that I’ve ever been associated with. It certainly was the fastest, without a doubt.
If anything has stood out over the past couple of weeks, it’s that best-on-best is the best.
Sports
Report: A's sign LHP Dallas Keuchel to minor league deal
Jul 7, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) throws during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images The Athletics signed former American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel to a minor league contract, ESPN reported Saturday.
The 38-year-old left-hander, a two-time All-Star, last pitched in the majors for the Milwaukee Brewers on July 13, 2024.
He has 13 years of major league experience, most prominently with the Houston Astros (2012-18). In 2015, he went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA and 216 strikeouts, en route to winning the AL Cy Young Award.
The veteran will now attempt another comeback with the Athletics. Per ESPN, he will report to Triple-A Las Vegas.
With the Astros, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and Brewers, Keuchel is 103-92 with a 4.04 ERA and 1,254 strikeouts in 282 games (267 starts).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Magomed Ankalaev puts away Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi
Oct 4, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Magomed Ankalaev (red gloves) reacts after the fight against Alex Pereira (blue gloves) during UFC 320 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images After a slow-paced, grueling affair that drew boos from the Etihad Arena crowd, No. 1-ranked former UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev finally put away No. 9 Bogdan Guskov with fifth-round ground-and-pound at 2:41 to cap off Saturday’s UFC Fight Night event in Abu Dhabi.
The main event was a slog for the first 15 minutes. The opening frame saw very little action, and the second round was largely uneventful aside from Ankalaev (22-2-1, 1 NC MMA) securing a clinch and landing a few knees. The lack of output continued into the third, prompting the restless Abu Dhabi crowd to loudly voice their frustration and shower both men with boos as they returned to their corners.
Ankalaev shifted gears in the championship rounds, immediately taking Guskov (18-4-1 MMA) to the mat to open the fourth. He worked his way to full mount before settling into half guard, eventually threatening with a rear-naked choke that Guskov managed to defend to survive the frame.
Guskov, who landed just 42 strikes throughout the entire fight, nearly pulled off a miracle head-in-arm choke early in the fifth round. Ankalaev calmly escaped the sudden submission threat and eventually took Guskov’s back. Despite a brief reversal from Guskov in a desperate scramble, Ankalaev regained top position and unleashed a vicious barrage of ground-and-pound to force the stoppage.
The victory gave Ankalaev his 13th UFC win, the most among active light heavyweights.
“I want to say thank you to Bogdan (Guskov) for coming in here and saving the fight,” Ankalaev said. “I feel good. Thank you.”
Watching the grueling affair cageside was reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg, who is currently sidelined recovering from a torn ACL. With the stoppage victory, Ankalaev likely solidified his position as the next challenger for Ulberg once the champion is cleared to return to the Octagon.
Flyweight Ramazan Temirov (20-3 MMA) secured his 12th consecutive victory in spectacular fashion, thoroughly dominating former title challenger Steve Erceg (14-5 MMA) en route to a first-round knockout.
Temirov set the tone early with a spinning back attack to begin the bout. Later in the frame, he unleashed a barrage of punches before putting the finishing touches on the performance. The final sequence began with a right hand before Temirov dropped and flatlined Erceg with a single punch to end things at the 4:21 mark.
Following the spectacular finish, Temirov used his post-fight interview to call out reigning UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van for a future title fight.
“I’m ready for everyone,” Temirov said. “Whoever is champion, I’m ready.”
Lightweight Magomed Zaynukov (9-0 MMA) leaned on highly effective striking and mixed combinations to secure a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) over Damian Rzepecki (10-1 MMA). After a slow-paced opening frame, Zaynukov found his rhythm and dictated the action down the stretch, opening noticeable cuts over Rzepecki’s nose and eyes to cruise to the win.
Heavyweight Rizvan Kuniev (14-3-1 MMA) wore down an incredibly game Tyrell Fortune (18-4 MMA), ultimately securing a TKO victory with a devastating knee to the head at the 1:12 mark of the third round. Kuniev nearly finished the bout in both the first and second frames with a barrage of knees and elbows, but Fortune showed immense toughness, surviving the early onslaught and continuing to fight despite a severely compromised right rib.
In the main card opener, Abubakar Vagaev (25-4 MMA) leaned on a balanced attack of striking and timely takedowns to secure a unanimous decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) over Saygid Izagakhmaev (22-4 MMA).
Saturday’s main card was unexpectedly reduced from six fights to five just three hours before the event began. The UFC announced that Islam Dulatov was forced to withdraw from his scheduled welterweight bout against Wellington Turman due to an illness, prompting a last-minute cancellation.
Heavyweight Valter Walker (16-1 MMA) made history on Saturday’s preliminary card, securing his fifth consecutive submission victory to tie former middleweight title challenger Demian Maia for the longest submission streak in modern UFC history. Walker finished Thomas Petersen (11-5 MMA) via first-round calf slicer — an incredibly rare finish that marks only the fourth of its kind ever successfully executed inside the Octagon.
Saturday marked the UFC’s 23rd event in Abu Dhabi since 2010. The promotion also announced during the broadcast that it will make its 24th trip to the United Arab Emirates on Oct. 24 for UFC 333.
The UFC returns to action next Saturday, kicking off August with a trip to Serbia for UFC Fight Night.
–Field Level Media
Sports
WTA roundup: Anna Bondar goes overtime, reaches Hamburg final
May 25, 2026; Paris, France; Anna Bondar of Hungary reacts during her first round match against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine on day two at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images No. 4 seed Anna Bondar of Hungary outlasted Elina Avanesyan of Armenia 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (2) in a three-hour, 29-minute match on Saturday to advance to the final of the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open in Germany.
Bondar will face fifth-seeded Tamara Korpatsch of Germany, who advanced in her semifinal match when Mayar Sherif of Egypt retired in the second set with an injury. Bondar reached the final at Hamburg for the second consecutive year.
Bondar was down 5-3 in the opening set against Avanesyan before rallying then taking the final four points of the tiebreaker for the set. Bondar also lost serve to fall behind 2-0 in the deciding set then won the first five points of the tiebreaker to advance.
Korpatsch dominated the opening set 6-1 then went up 2-0 in the second set before Sherif was forced to bow out. Sherif was coming off her first title in four years at the Iasi Open in Romania.
Prague Open
Lilli Tagger of Austria pulled off an upset of No. 2 seed Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic and earned her way into the final with a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (4) semifinal victory.
Both semifinalists from the Czech Republic fell in their home country with No. 5 seed Tereza Valentova losing 7-6 (4), 6-3 to No. 8 seed Daria Snigur of Ukraine.
After losing the opening set, Tagger rallied by breaking Krejcikova’s serve to go up 4-2 in the second set. She broke serve again in the fourth game of the final set then won the final three points in the tiebreaker to win the match.
Snigur and Valentova each broke serve twice in the opening set before Snigur won the final four points of the tiebreaker. Snigur then broke Valentova’s serve twice in the second set, including once to take a 5-3 lead before serving for the match.
–Field Level Media
Ryan Gosling to star in MCUs Ghost Rider film
Report: A's sign LHP Dallas Keuchel to minor league deal
