EXCLUSIVE: Canada’s CBC has ordered a special that tells the story of the historic 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey tournament held earlier this year.
Blink49 Studios is making the feature-length special, which is currently in production with the cooperation of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players’ Association. It’s set to premiere on CBC and streaming service CBC Gem early next year ahead of the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina. Emmy-nominated filmmaker Yon Motskin is directing. He’s also exec producing alongside P.K. Subban.
Public broadcaster CBC is positioning the doc as sitting “at the intersection of hockey, culture, politics, and Canadian national identity.”
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The 4 Nations Face-Off was held in February, pitting the Canadian, U.S., Finnish and Swedish hockey teams against each other in a round robin competition, featuring only NHL players. Replacing the annual All-Star Game, it captured the imagination and was well received by commentators and journalists alike. Canada would win the tournament, 3-2 in the championship game against the USA, with superstar Connor McDavid scoring an overtime winning goal in a sensational game.
The feature will include behind-the-scenes access, archive and intimate personal conversations with NHL stars, prominent Canadian and American voices, and a range of superfans to tell the story of the high-stakes drama of the on-ice competition and the cultural surge surrounding the games.
The tournament re-ignited the rivalry between Canada and the U.S., both on and off the ice, with games being held against the backdrop of President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.
“The 4 Nations Face-Off special will offer an in-depth look at this year’s powerful communal moment, extending well beyond the action on the ice,” said Jennifer Dettman, Executive Director, Unscripted Content, CBC. “In collaboration with Blink49 Studios, and with expectations of a Canada-U.S.A. rematch at the Olympic Winter Games, we look forward to sharing this broader story with audiences across the country.”
“The 4 Nations Face-Off became a cultural flashpoint as much as a sporting event, and we knew there was a bigger story to tell,” said Tara Long, Global President of Unscripted Television at Blink49. “We’re excited to partner with Yon, P.K., and CBC to go behind the scenes and explore the definitive story of the athletes, national pride, and the forces shaping the rivalry both on and off the ice.”
Canadian ice hockey is having a moment right now, with Crave’s LGBTQ+-themed sports drama Heated Rivalry gaining a big on both sides of the North American border and going viral several times. In the U.S., HBO acquired the rights and has seen the series consistently sit in the top ten of its streaming service, HBO Max, since launched in late November.