The climb toward a gold medal for the US and Canada began long ago

MILAN (AP) — When organizers designed the 4 Nations Face-Off to be played in February 2025, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the intent was for it to serve as an appetizer for hockey at the Olympics.

What it turned out to be, beyond a smashing success that put the sport firmly in the limelight, was a blueprint for the U.S. and Canada to build their rosters. The tournament was the first in international play to feature the best in the world in nearly a decade. The lessons learned informed what USA Hockey and Hockey Canada did over the past year.

It worked, with the U.S. and Canada advancing to Sunday's gold medal game, a rematch of the final of the 4 Nations. Canada won that in overtime and put the two teams on a crash course for a rematch. It's not a two-team tournament and there was no guarantee they'd play, but now a lot of the big decisions on either side will be tested, once and for all.

“We didn’t build our team just to play Canada,” U.S. general manager Bill Guerin said. "We built the best team possible. We feel that we built the best team possible. We did that with us in mind. We’re worried about us, not anybody else.”

Guerin and his group opted to bring back forwards like Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller who could kill penalties and defend. Left at home were four of the top 10 American scorers in the league: Jason Robertson, Lane Hutson, Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat.

The U.S. wanted players who could do specific jobs and also be versatile to move around the lineup, with coach Mike Sullivan making changes along the way.

“One of the things that we’ve tried to do is cast these guys in roles where they know what the expectations are and the contribution that they can make to help us have success,” Sullivan said.

Canada brought six new players who were not at 4 Nations, and injuries to Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli cleared the way for Sam Bennett and Seth Jarvis. One of the newcomers is 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini, who has turned heads since he was an NHL rookie in the fall of 2024.

“I didn’t even know I was on the radar or even in the conversation,” Celebrini said. “When (GM Doug Armstrong) brought that to my attention, it was a little bit of a push and excitement —- just a little bit more of something that I can look forward to and work to.”

Celebrini has been one of Canada's best players with 10 points, behind only tournament leader and teammate Connor McDavid (13).

“He’s got a lot of skill and a lot of confidence,” winger Mitch Marner said. “He’s not afraid of the big moments.”

Another new addition, Nick Suzuki, scored the tying goal when Canada trailed with under four minutes left in the quarterfinals. Tom Wilson started on right wing with Celebrini and McDavid and has brought size, physicality — and even fisticuffs — to the Olympics.

Canada changed out two goaltenders, picking Logan Thompson and Darcy Kuemper this time, but Cooper always had Jordan Binnington written in as the starter. Cooper made up his mind immediately after Binnington backstopped Canada to the win at 4 Nations, and the 32-year-old netminder's play over his first four starts validated that decision.

“You don’t have to be a scout to see what he did in the Stanley Cup (Final), what he did in the 4 Nations, and there’s a massive belief,” Armstrong said. “When players see that time and time again, that’s just a foundation that they know that, ‘OK, when push comes to shove, we have faith in this guy,’ and I think that’s where they are with Binner.”

The U.S. has relied primarily on Connor Hellebuyck, who starred at the 4 Nations and is the reigning NHL MVP and Vezina Trophy winner as the league’s best goalie. Just as Binnington knows the Americans who will be trying to score on him, Hellebuyck knows the star-studded roster of Team Canada well.

“He’s won a lot of trophies,” winger Jake Guentzel said. “We feel good with him back there.”

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

United States' JT Miller (10) challenges with Slovakia's Martin Fehervary (42) during a men's ice hockey semifinal game between the United States and Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)

Canada's Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates with Sam Reinhart (13) and Macklin Celebrini (17) after MacKinnon scored a goal against Finland during the third period of a men's ice hockey semifinal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

United States players line up to congratulate goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck (37) after their win over Slovakia in a men's ice hockey semifinal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Canada goalkeeper Jordan Binnington (50) is congratulated after Canada's 3-2 win over Finland in a men's ice hockey semifinal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — Wallabies prop James Slipper led the ACT Brumbies onto the field Sunday for their match against the Crusaders to become the first Australian and the second player to play 200 Super Rugby games, marking the occasion with a try.

Slipper scored his 11th try in Super Rugby in the 30th minute, contributing to a 50-24 win over the defending champion Crusaders, the Brumbies' first in Christchurch in 26 years. He was replaced after 53 minutes.

“We're super-stoked to be able to do it for big Jimmy (Slipper) on his 200th and he got a try to show for it as well,” Brumbies captain Ryan Lonergan said.

Only former All Blacks prop Wyatt Crockett, who played 202 matches for the Crusaders, has played more than Slipper, who remains surprisingly fit at 36. Slipper will break that record — if he plays every match — when the Brumbies play the Fijian Drua on March 14.

Slipper made his Super Rugby debut for the Queensland Reds against the New South Wales Waratahs on Feb. 13, 2010. Rhys van Nek who propped the Brumbies' scrum with Slipper on Sunday was only 10 when the veteran made his debut.

Slipper went on to play 104 times for the Reds before joining the Brumbies in 2019, playing his 96th match Sunday for the Canberra-based team. He made his test debut against England in 2010 and went on to play 151 test matches, placing him third on the all-time list behind Alun Wyn-Jones of Wales and Sam Whitelock of New Zealand, both also retired.

Slipper scored his first test try in his 94th test and in 2024 surpassed George Gregan's record of 139 tests for Australia.

“He is one of the most respected players in Australian rugby and reaching 200 Super Rugby games is a huge achievement,” Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham said. “He continues to set the standard with how he prepares, how he trains and how he competes.”

Slipper showed skill and vision in scoring his first half try Sunday. He first provided a good ball to fullback Andy Muirhead who breached the Crusaders' defense, then ran off the shoulder of lock Cadeyrn Neville to score in the left corner.

The Brumbies scored eight tries to four. The last time they beat the Crusaders in Christchurch current head coach Stephen Larkham was at flyhalf. Only three of the Brumbies' starters were born when that win was achieved.

The win "is up there as one of the best,” Slipper told Australian television. “We knocked off the Blues at Eden Park last year, and that’s a bit of a hoodoo for us. Like most Aussie teams, (we’ve) come here, and we put up a fight, but we never get the chocolates.

“So, for today to come away with a result, and the way it ended up is a big result for us.

“But one thing I know, I’ve been around a while now, you know, you’ve got to be playing your best rugby towards the end of the season, and that’s what the Crusaders do really well. They seem to come home really strong so that’s our challenge.”

The Brumbies are now 2-0 for the season ahead of a home match next week against the Auckland-based Blues.

”We’ve been to Perth and we’ve come to Christchurch and haven’t played at home yet so coming away with two games has built our confidence," Slipper said.

The Crusaders are 0-2 after a first-up loss to the Dunedin-based Highlanders.

Their loss Sunday — the second heaviest at home — resulted from a lack of discipline and threadbare backline defense.

The Brumbies forwards struggled at times against the Crusaders, especially in lineouts but their backs were devastating in fine conditions on a hard ground. Slipper was prominent around the field.

“Every time (Slipper) speaks, whether it’s in a huddle or in a team meeting space, everyone listens and takes the advice on board and then he backs that up with consistent performance,” Larkham said prior to the match. “He’s still playing as good as he’s ever played in his career and still loving his rugby. It’s a pleasure to coach him and the boys love being around him.”

Sunday's match was one of two trans-Tasman contests in Super Rugby's second round. The Blues beat the Western Force 42-32 in Perth, Australia on Saturday after trailing 17-14 at halftime and the Brumbies squared the ledger on Sunday.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

FILE - Australia's James Slipper waves as he leaves the field during the Bledisloe Cup rugby test between the All Blacks and the Wallabies in Perth, Australia, Saturday, Oct 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gary Day,File)