It was a clutch moment.

With the game on the line, Mitch Marner delivered when Canada needed him most, setting up Connor McDavid for the tournament-winning goal at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

McDavid’s overtime strike sent Canada into celebration mode, securing the country’s first best-on-best hockey championship since 2016.
Watch as Canada’s Connor McDavid seals a thrilling 4 Nations Face-Off final against the United States, firing the overtime winner past Connor Hellebuyck to secure the tournament title.

After the game, Mitch Marner spoke with reporters in Boston about the moment and what it means for him as he prepares to return to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Q: How did that feel for you?

“It felt good, I can’t lie. Yeah, it felt really good. But I have to give a lot of credit to Binnington—he made some massive saves in overtime that easily could have ended the game. So yeah, it was an amazing feeling.”

Q: How fitting was it—2010 had Sidney Crosby’s golden goal, and now you’re setting up Connor McDavid for this one?

“Yeah, I mean, it was great. First off, credit to Cale for the vision—he saw me all the way down in the far corner and sent it around. I just tried to handle it quickly, push up the ice, and find Connor in the slot. He did the rest.”

Q: Was this like an international passing of the torch moment from Sid to Connor?

“Maybe, I don’t know. Like we’ve talked about, Crosby has been an idol for a lot of us and still is. I mentioned it this morning—I’m just happy to have him on my team in games like these.”

Q: What does it mean to the fans, to Canada, and to wear this jersey?

“Yeah, it’s special. It means a lot. Unfortunately, in past times when I’ve worn the Canadian jersey, we haven’t had as much success as we did in this tournament. So this feels really good. You always want to win these kinds of things—and this time, we did.”