Connor McDavid scored a game-winning overtime goal for Canada as the team secured a victory in the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off tournament over the United States. The 3-2 victory marked a seminal moment in Canadian hockey history as the team prepares to challenge other programs from around the world next year as NHL players return to the Olympic Games being held in Milan and Cortina. Joe Rose, morning show host on WQAM in Miami, Fla., was watching the game on ESPN as several Florida Panthers competed in the matchup, and he discussed the penchant he has for viewing sports even if it coincides with days off.
Rose explained that his wife has stated that she does not understand why he watches sports when off, and it led producer Danny “Hollywood” Rabinowitz to expound on the sentiment. Rabinowitz articulated that it ultimately comes down to sports being drama and thus keeping the audience enthralled in the action. The hype surrounding the game also affected the interest from Rose’s perspective, expressing that it was “great” and that there is a reason why boxing and wrestling are promoted in such a manner.
“There are a lot of events that we watch year round, whether they mean anything in your favorite league or, ‘Are there playoffs?,’ and you’re going, ‘Eeh, it’s okay. It’s a best-of-seven, it doesn’t matter about tonight,’” Rose outlined. “I haven’t had that feeling that I had last night since obviously the Stanley Cup, but that doesn’t happen a lot where you get that [with] what you got last night for watching.”
Within his discourse, Rose divulged that he was effectively consumed into watching the game and enjoyed the action, spending several segments on the morning show talking about the action and potential residual effects. While the final viewership number for the championship has not yet been released, the six previous games within the tournament averaged 1.8 million viewers across TNT Sports and ESPN platforms. Moreover, the first game between the United States and Canada collected 10.1 million viewers across the continent, which is up 203% from the last matchup between the two teams at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
“That thing was incredible,” Rabinowitz said. “It’ll probably be only outdone by the Olympics in one year.”
“One year from now,” Rose replied, “and that thing’s going to be huge, and that gold medal means a lot to whoever’s going to win, and I’m guessing Canada’s going to go in as the favorite.”
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk was playing on Team USA during the tournament, but he suffered an injury in the first game between the two teams on Saturday and played part of the championship matchup. Yet he did not return to action following a shift near the end of the second period, eliciting concern among hockey fans regarding the severity of his ailment. Rose explained that while he enjoyed the tournament, he understands that Tkachuk is among the best players on the Panthers. In fact, he told listeners that if it ends up being a while before Tkachuk is able to return, callers can tell him that he was wrong.
“You don’t have to change the way you feel about it,” Rabinowitz concluded. “You don’t have to be a fraud because that tournament was awesome, and it clearly meant the world to those guys, so it is what it is.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
