OverDrive - Armstrong on Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, the matchup against the USA and the construction of the roster

Episode Date: February 19, 2025

Hockey Canada and Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the 4 Nations Face-Off, Canada's tournament perspective, the managerial viewpoints of the team, the championship game against the USA, the physicality in the matchup, the build of the roster, Sidney Crosby's elite leadership and more.

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Switch to Bell PureFiber, Canada's fastest internet, awarded by UCCLA. Starting from $60 a month. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Here's the GM of the blues, also of hockey Canada heading towards the Olympics next year. He's overseeing the Four Nations faceoff back on overdrive courtesy of the Maple Toyota Hotline. Here's Doug Armstrong. How are you doing, Doug? I'm good, gentlemen. How are you guys? We're doing well I mean we've been talking a lot

about this experience and how much we've enjoyed the Four Nations. How would you say the the games and the atmosphere and the energy have met what your expectations were for this tournament? You know what I had high expectations and it's actually exceeded them. I think as I was listening to you guys' intro here, the Montreal Faithful did themselves very proud. The city, you know, we were in the middle of a snowstorm, but it was just, it just was unbelievable the amount of energy around the building and then the games, not only the Canada games, but all the games.

But ultimately that game Saturday night was second to none. You know, it, you know, at a different level, but it seemed a lot like I was fortunate enough to be at the 2010 gold medal game. A lot of hype around that game, obviously, and then the stakes were higher than they are now. But it was, it was electric. And then obviously the start got everyone's attention. And I thought it turned out to be a great game, a two, one game that ended with an empty netter. Everybody, the top players played well on every team. It's amazing when you have 18 of the best players on each team, how little ice there is and how you have to take advantage of what's given. I'm expecting

nothing but even a better event tomorrow night. So Armie, when you're sitting in a boardroom with your management team, where on the bingo card did it say that you were going to have three fights in what the first nine seconds against the US team? I mean that could have been a surprise for you as well in the management side. Yeah we knew how their roster is built. Obviously we knew that the Chuck boys were going to be on there and they play with what Berkey would call that truculence and we were aware of that, but we wanted to put our best team together and I thought it was great. I hate to use the word proud because I'm not their father or anything, but I was impressed by the determination of Hagel coming out with a much bigger player in Tichuk and hailing

him very well and just Bennett and then Pranko our guy. It was great to see it. I know it's a look at yesteryear hockey but I think every once in a while that's a that's a view to what it used to be like and I think the fans enjoyed it. I think everyone enjoyed it then but more importantly I think when that was finished they enjoyed a 59-minute, 50nd-grade hockey game. Doug, how have you handled the transactional stuff?

Like, theater goes down, and then it was like Harley was in Boston, where it was like Gary and Bill contacting you from a bar saying, Nah, that's okay. And then it seemed like things were kind of on the fly. Like, how challenging was that? And now the US is dealing with it. It seems like they've got other players coming in and they're not sure. I'm sure there's been stuff that's been on the fly as far as your questions and what's allowed. Yeah.

And, you know, Bill Daly and the PA have handled this and they set out the parameters early and you have to deal with them. There was a certain thing that went on and there's an illness going through there's injuries and they were they were great we contacted them we gave them our position with with the Theodore thing and then my car situation and you know the rules are the rules and I feel for them because they have to make decisions that that have to pass the other three countries but all in all're going to get to tomorrow night. There's going to be great players on the ice.

And I'm sure when they look back at this, they'll reassess and find out if there are going to be tweaks to the rules. But I don't want to, personally, this is my personal thing, I don't want any of that to override how great the event is and how lucky we are to see players like the T'Chucks and Matthews and then we got Connor and the list goes on and on. I don't start ripping off names, you'll be here all night, but it's just great to see the best players play with emotion and passion for their countries. With Doug Armstrong of Hockey Canada, head of the championship game tomorrow night, Four

Nations faceoff. I think what's really stood out You know, we've referenced those fights the other night is that we're playing based on the NHL rulebook Which to me is very substantial in terms of team building and what you can expect with these these teams and in the games and how The the events are gonna play out Because as you know, I mean you'll get to the Olympic Games next year, no one's going to be fighting. Any hit that is even borderline, I find the international refs will lean towards five in a game. Yeah, like it's just instinctively five in a game. So I'm curious Doug, you know, if you took that into consideration in terms of team building for this event compared to the Olympic Games, you know, the actual rule book and what's allowed for this event that won't be allowed once you get to the Olympic Games, you know, the actual rule book and what's allowed for

this event that won't be allowed once you get to the Olympic Games. Yeah, I would say that's, you know, we went into the equation on who you pick, but ultimately we were using this as we want to win the event and preparing for the next event and talking to our top players. They were adamant, like, make Team Canada the best it can be and let teams adjust to us. It does not adjust to what they may or may not do. And as I said, it was great theatre the first nine minutes, but you guys know the level

of players here. Nobody's intimidated, nobody's scared, nobody gets pushed around. And so it was great. It was great theatre, it was a great nine seconds, and then it was best on best, and that's how we built our teams are for best on best. Army, where are you at with Bennington? I mean, you know, he's made some great saves. He's maybe had a few that he wanted back. But as far as, you know, the level of confidence you had in him coming into the tournament and his place so far, and obviously you're going to have to try

and deliver a win tomorrow night. Yeah, I would say that's been the greatest spotlight on our team was how was the goaltending going to be and you know at the end of the day we're playing in the final game and that's what we want to do and you're right he's made some you know you look at the overtime a couple of saves he made in that Sweden game and overtime like that that put us in this in this game tonight. So you know he's at the point where he wants to be he's had great success here in boston in big games and i'm hoping he can replicate that again but uh...

he's going to be at his best obviously uh... u s colt anders played fantastic in his two starts and it's it's a one-game one you know one game take all in and i'm excited because that's usually when Bennington rises up. Army, you mentioned the possibility or the likelihood of a 2-1 score coming up. That seems like a game seven or a championship game gold medal. The score is usually like 2-1, 3-2. What is it about players that have success in these type of moments?

Because you mentioned there's time and space. What is it about a player that has success in these games as opposed to a regular season guy where when it gets to the playoffs things tighten up and they don't shine as much? What about a player shines in a tight hockey game? Yeah, well I think that all the players here are asked to shine when the lights are the brightest on their club teams. You know, these are the best on best. Jordan Binnington said, which I, you know, it makes sense when he said it, but I never

thought of it this way. He said, like, in the NHL, when you're playing a game, and Noodle's can probably attest to it, there's probably 60 to 70% of the players that you feel comfortable that you're going to be able to read what's going to happen and stop the puck and then the other ones can score from distance and score different ways. Everyone in this tournament is in that next to like bottom 20 to 30% where they can score different ways. So a 20 shot game against is probably like a 35 shot game at the NHL level just because

the likelihood of the guy being able to do what he wants to do is higher than ever so It's and for the scorers like these guys that we're asking to carry the mail carry the mail on the on their on their day Teams and so they're just they're just accustomed to playing at that time of the game and when everything's on the line Well, and the fact that you got you know know, Sid playing for you as your captain playing the way that he's been playing, you know, there just is no, there's no counterpart in the sport period for any nation. It doesn't matter if you're playing Sweden tomorrow, Finland tomorrow, doesn't matter. But you're playing the Americans and they don't have them.

They just do not have a guy like Sid. How much of a cheat code do you think that is for you guys? How beneficial has it been just to have him in the room, but also perform in the way he's been performing? I think it's beneficial. It's not just in the room, it's in the hotel, it's his preparation. It's the passion that he brought to this event.

Being able to share the stories of what it was like to play in 10 and 14 and 16, and then what he does on the ice obviously, you know, the, you know, we were reeling, let's be honest, against in that last game and he finds a way to have a accidental collision there at centre-ice and ends up with a puck and it's in the net and it's game over. Like he's just a big game player, but he's also a big tournament player. Like just having him in our meal room, in our locker room,

in our elevators everywhere. He just carries us. He has that presence of a Wayne, of a Mario. You know, McDavid's working into that. It's just special. They're not even generational. They're every two or three generations, and we're just so fortunate to have him as our leader. Well, it's going to be a lot of fun tomorrow night. What do you, uh, anticipating the energy in the building will be like in Boston tomorrow? I think it's going to be great. I was, I was impressed by the number of Canadian fans that made it down to the, uh,

the Monday game. I don't know if they bought package deals and knew we were going to be here, but I think there's going to be a good representation of Canadian fans here. Uh, I think it's, it's going to be loud and they they're gonna be ready to go in the players are going to be ready to go and it did uh... again unfortunate to to have been in this building for a game seven of the stanley cup finals and it was rocking and i really expect nothing less uh... uh... tonight and uh...

i hope uh... the visiting team has the same success as they did uh... back in twenty nineteen when i was here yeah it was a fun one for you i'm sure it's uh... i would think i was a funny it was that was the first one is the only cup uh... while we're pulling for the same outcome as well uh... tomorrow night obviously is canadians were looking forward to a route for you guys

best of luck tomorrow dot i really appreciate doing this well there's always enjoy a spent time with you and thanks for your support. And we're looking forward to tomorrow night. You got it. Doug Armstrong joining us here of Hockey Canada, head of the championship game tomorrow night, four nations face off here on the Maple Toyota hotline. Countdown Maple Toyota for the right winter tire package for your Toyota. Trade in your old tires, buy a new set and get $40 back.

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