New York Rangers forward J.T. Miller was thrilled that President Donald Trump called Team USA ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada, describing it as “awesome” to have his support. Although Trump was unable to attend the championship game in Boston, he took the time to call the team Thursday morning, offering words of encouragement.
The highly anticipated matchup has drawn massive viewership, with over 10 million people tuning in for the previous USA-Canada game on ABC. The final, airing on ESPN, is expected to attract even more fans.
New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson was equally excited about Trump’s call, calling it “pretty incredible” and something he will “remember forever.”
The 4 Nations tournament, originally intended as a lead-up to the NHL’s return to the Winter Olympics, has become an intense competition. Tensions have been high, with Canadian fans booing the U.S. national anthem and multiple fights breaking out during games, including one between Miller and Canadian defenseman Colton Parayko.
Bill Guerin, Team USA’s general manager, had suggested Trump attend the final, emphasizing that the team takes pride in representing their country and has been using the political energy as motivation.
The NHL has committed to sending players to the 2026 Olympics in Italy after missing the last two Winter Games. The most recent best-on-best international tournament before the 4 Nations was the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, where Canada emerged victorious, as they did in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.
Reflecting on Trump’s call, Miller said, “It was so awesome to get his support. It’s a pretty big deal for him to take time out of his schedule to talk to us for five minutes. It’s just another one of those moments where we’re kind of pinching ourselves this tournament.” According to Guerin, Trump spoke with the entire team for an extended period before their morning skate.
