‘I just hope Canada is proud’: Coach Jon Cooper reflects on 4 Nations Face-Off win

Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper dropped some all-time quotes following Canada’s victory over the United States in overtime 3-2, which saw Connor McDavid play hero, scoring the overtime winner securing Canada the 4 Nations Championship.

Cooper spoke about what this win meant for the team and staff and the fans across Canada: “I just hope Canada is proud because every player in that room is proud to be a Canadian,” Cooper said in a post-game press conference. “Yeah, we needed a win. Not only our team, but Canada needed a win. And the players bared that on their shoulders.

“This one was different. This wasn’t a win for themselves. This was a win for 40-plus million people, and the guys knew it and they delivered,” said Cooper.

“Just to see the reaction. Just to know what it means to us. I know it’s just a quick tournament, and it’s not an Olympic gold medal or anything like that, but it means the world to our group, as you can see,” McDavid told ESPN in the moments after the win. “Everybody battled so hard all week. It was special.”

While McDavid scored the overtime winner, it was Nathan MacKinnon winning the MVP award for the 4 Nations Face-Off. MacKinnon scored the opening goal for Canada in Thursday’s finale, MacKinnon finished the tournament with five goals in four games, including one in the championship game, and also led the tournament in goal-scoring.

Team Canada goaltender Jordan Binnington ended up making 31 saves in the win. The St. Louis Blues netminder, who turned back the clock to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final on Thursday Night, played in all four games for Canada, posting a 2.37 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.