Five Calgary Players Who Helped Canada Win Hockey Gold

Canada has cemented its place atop the hockey world.

With a 3-2 overtime victory over the United States – courtesy of a golden goal by Connor McDavid – Canada claimed gold at the National Hockey League’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which began in Montreal and shifted to Boston for the championship final.

Calgary athletes – those who were born and raised here and others who spent a good chunk of time representing the city – had a major hand in Team Canada’s success.

Here are five players who impressed during the February event:

5. After defenseman Shea Theodore was injured in Canada’s opening game, Travis Sanheim stepped in and played dependable hockey. The Philadelphia Flyer from Manitoba – who suited up for three seasons for the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League between 2013 and 2016 – appeared in three 4 Nations games and picked up an assist against Finland.

4. Calgarian Josh Morrissey was unable to take the ice in the gold medal game due to illness, but he had formed a solid pairing with Colton Parayko during the tournament. The alternate captain with the Winnipeg Jets and former star defender with the Calgary Royals and Springbank Rockies was a plus one in his three contests for Canada.

3. Forward Brayden Point worked his way up the lineup over the course of the tourney and his speed and quick hands earned him a place alongside McDavid as the event unfolded. The Calgary product – who skated with the Bisons and Buffaloes in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League and the Alberta Midget Hockey League as a teenager – registered a goal and an assist for Canada.

2. Rugged Ontario forward Sam Bennett did it all for Canada. During the round-robin game against the United States, he fought Brady Tkachuk and threw body checks all over the ice. And when the Canadians were down 2-1 in the final, Bennett lifted a puck over American goalie Connor Hellebuyck’s shoulder to tie the game late in the second period. He led the way with six shots, five hits and five faceoff wins in the gold medal game. The fourth overall selection of the Calgary Flames in the 2014 NHL draft called the Saddledome home from 2015 through 2021.

1. Standout defenseman Cale Makar was perhaps most noticeable in his absence, which resulted in Canada’s only loss of the tourney, a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the U.S. The smooth-skating Calgarian, who plays his NHL games for the Colorado Avalanche, was a calming influence on the D corps and the entire Canuck squad. Makar led all Canada skaters in ice time in the final, logging 28 minutes and 17 seconds on the back end. The Calgary Booster Club’s 2023 Male Athlete of the Year also picked up a secondary assist on McDavid’s OT winner.

Congratulations to all the members of Team Canada on their gold-medal victory at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament!