Two former Gopher hockey stars competing in the confrontation of 4 nations

Two former Gopher hockey stars will be among the 92 players competing in the NHL nations confrontation tournament, which begins on Wednesday night in Montreal.

The first tournament of its kind, which essentially replaces the All-Star game of the League this year, presents the best NHL players in the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden. The four countries will play in a round swirl format, with the two best teams advancing to a championship game next Thursday in Boston. The games will be televised in TNT, ESPN and ABC.

United States: Brock Faber

Faber grew up in Maple Grove, MN, then chose to join the National Development Team of the United States instead of playing hockey in high school. He was recruited in the second round for the Kings in 2020. Faber spent three years at the University of Minnesota and became one of the best defenders of university hockey. He was the defensive player of the year of Big Ten as a second year student in 2021-22.

In June 2022, Faber’s rights changed to nature in the Kevin Fiala agreement. Then he returned for another season with the Gophers, was appointed team captain and was part of the heartbreaking defeat against Quinnipiac in the NCAA championship game. Faber made his NHL debut with The Wild in April 2023 and appeared in just two regular seasonal games before playing in his six playoff games that year.

Last season, Faber had 47 points and ended second with Connor Bedard in Chicago in Calder Trophy’s vote. The 22 -year -old has had another strong season this year and is one of the best young defenders in the League. He previously played for the US team. In the Junior World Championship and the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, so this experience will not be too new to him, except that the level of competition will be higher than ever.

Finland: Erik Haula

Haula spent a season playing hockey at high school in Shattuck-Saint Mary’s in Faribault, MN, then became the second player born out of North America to play for the Gophers (the Austrian Thomas Vanek was the first). Haula accumulated 42 goals and 124 points in 114 games for Minnesota of 2010-13. The 33 -year -old man was recruited by The Wild and spent the first four years of his career there. Now he plays for the New Jersey Devils and is in the twelfth year of a NHL race that passes with seven different franchises.

Here is the tournament schedule:

Wednesday, February 12 (Montreal)
Canada vs. Sweden, 7 PM (TNT)

Thursday, February 13 (Montreal)
United States vs. Finland, 7 pm (ESPN)

Saturday, February 15 (Montreal)
Finland vs. Sweden, 12 PM (ABC)
United States vs. Canada, 7 PM (ABC)

Monday, February 17 (Boston)
Canada vs. Finland, 12 PM (TNT)
Sweden vs. United States, 7 PM (TNT)

Thursday, February 20 (Boston)
Championship game, 7 pm (ESPN)

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