Rankin Inlet hockey fan David Tulugak is going out on a limb to predict a Team Canada versus Team Finland final at the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off professional hockey tournament.
The 4 Nations Face-Off will feature teams from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the USA, with games being played in Montreal and Boston from Feb. 12-20, 2025.
Tulugak said it's hard not to be impressed with the rosters submitted by all four squads this past week.
He said what it comes down to for him is Canada's abundance of offensive power against Finland's overall team play and two guys by the name of Patrik Laine and Connor McDavid.
“Laine is playing a strong game now at both ends of the ice and I don't have to say anything about McDavid, who many say is the best player in the world right now,” said Tulugak.
“Canada will start with Jordan Binnington in goal, I'm sure, and Finland will probably start Nashville's Juuse Saros in goal every game unless he struggles, and I don't see that happening.
“All four of these teams are great and, of course, I'd like to see Team Canada not lose a game, but that will be tough in this tournament.”
Tulugak said it's possible Team USA will get a big boost from the home crowd during games played in Boston and you can never really count Sweden out with players like Viktor Arvidsson, Filip Forsberg, William Karlsson, William Nylander and Elias Pettersson, among others, in the lineup.
“If you picked Team Canada in every international tournament since they started, you'd have a pretty good overall record," he said. "And, I firmly believe, as long as they get solid goaltending, they'll take this one too. But, let's be honest, these are four solid teams here.
“I'm glad the Russians weren't invited with the war in Ukraine. Most of the hockey world would have been pretty upset if they were. Maybe one or two of the other teams would have even pulled out if they were.
“No matter who wins, there's no doubt we're going to see some incredible hockey played during this tournament. I just think Canada's too strong from top to bottom and Laine feels he really has something to prove going into this, so I'm sticking with my prediction of Canada versus Finland in the final.
“Go Canada go.”
