NHL Announces Boston As A 4 Nations Face-Off Host

Details on a professional international pro hockey tournament have been unveiled by the NHL and it includes exciting news for Boston hockey fans. The 4 Nations Face-Off will be played at the TD Garden and in Montreal, Canada. The countries participating are Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States.

If you are unfamiliar with this unique tournament here is what you need to know. This has the feel of the World Baseball Classic, but for hockey and perhaps on a bit of a smaller and introductory scale. While the four participating countries have been announced, we don't know which players we can expect to see in the games just yet. However, what we do know is that the players will be familiar names.

The 4 Nations Face-Off will be a round-robin tournament featuring teams comprised of NHL players from the United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland," the NHL said in a press release. On Friday, June 28th the first six players from each team will be announced.

In total each team will have 23 players. This consists of 20 skaters and three goalies per team. In order to be eligible each player must be contracted to a NHL roster for the 2024 - 2025 season.

Of course both Boston and Montreal are filled with hockey fanatics and players, but there is another connection to the city and the NHL picking the TD Garden as a host site. Former city mayor Marty Walsh is the NHL Players' Association executive director.

Seven games are scheduled over the course of two different weeks next winter. The exact schedule is below with the puck first dropping in Montreal.

At The Bell Centre in Montreal:

At the TD Garden in Boston:

The tournament format is that "each team plays three tournament games in Round Robin format: 3 points for a regulation win; 2 points for an OT/shootout win and 1 point for an OT/shootout loss."

Upon the conclusion of these tournament games a final matchup will be determined. It is simply the two teams that have the best record based around the point system detailed.

Walsh in a statement shared by the NHL said this tournament in a way serves as a lead-in to the 2026 Winter Olympics. "You’re going to have 90 NHL players representing their countries while competing in one of the greatest games in the world," Walsh said.

You can sign up for updates and ticket information here.

Boston Calling 2024 is officially underway. The first bands of this three-day festival have taken the stage and there are already lines at the merchandise tents. Here is a look at some of the unique Boston Calling merch items for this year, available at the main purchase stands.

Each year over Memorial Day weekend, Boston Calling rocks the Harvard grounds. Like most festivals, they always design their own merch for the annual occasion. Their bulldog logo stands out. It has become a familiar face synonymous with this event. It’s then placed upon your typical concert merch stand items like hoodies, caps, posters, and t-shirts. However, Boston Calling does a great job of freshening up the bulldog. This has resulted in new popular designs for each year’s festival.

2024 is no exception. Although the standard red, blue, and gold colors have remained, new patterns have now entered the space.

Boston Calling headliners include Ed Sheeran (Friday), Tyler Childers (Saturday), and The Killers (Sunday) to close it out. Leon Bridges, Megan Thee Stallion, Hozier, Renee Rapp, Trey Anastasio, The Revivalists, and Young The Giant are among the other performers not to be missed.

Each of these artists has merch available on the festival grounds. It’s important to note, the headliners' merch is available all weekend. Meaning that, although The Killers are playing Sunday, their shirts can be purchased today (while supplies last).

Are you worried about holding all this new gear for the duration of the day and night? Fear not; lockers are available to rent (while supplies last). There’s an official Boston Calling app and a QR code you can snap to give you a mobile map in the palm of your hand.

Lastly, the festival FAQ states, “Small clutch purses and fanny packs that are 6" x 9" or smaller do not need to be clear, but can have no more than one pocket. All other bags larger than 6" x 9" must be smaller than 12" x 6" x 12" and clear.”

Let’s take a further look at some of the Boston Calling 2024 merch items you may be storing, sporting, or purchasing during the weekend.

Again, these are available all weekend. Each of them seem to promote the given album or tour the artist is on. Hozier and the Killers seem to have the largest variety of items available. Tyler Childers has the best hat collection for sale, from truckers to rope hats.

New this year, there are few options of custom Boston Calling hats. My preference in comfort is the green one that I am also wearing in the image at the top of this article. This year's silkscreen poster contains the names of all the artist. There is one poster for sale. The Harvard basketball jersey is a nice addition to the lineup, sporting the #24. Perhaps its a nod the graduation that occurred here earlier in the week.

The lineup 2024 t-shirt comes in an all black option or tie-dyed. Both are the same with the logo on the front and lineup on the back. There are two water bottles. One is yellow and the other is the signature festival colors of blue and red.

Have there ever been Boston Calling shorts? Well, they have them this year. While they've certain had sweatpants in the past I don't recall the branded short flying out of the brown boxes as quickly as they are this year. Perhaps the beautiful 80-degree day has something to do wit that. As usual, there are also a nice array of custom 2024 festival t-shirts. The bomber jacket is a stylish dark green, and of course the dog head logo is everywhere.