Team Canada's Different "Vizion" at 4 Nations Face-Off

The 4 Nations Face-Off brought together some of the biggest stars in international hockey, with Canada, the U.S., Sweden, and Finland battling it out for supremacy. Team Canada, as expected, boasted a star-studded lineup, featuring the likes of Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Sam Reinhart. But amidst all the high-level competition and highlight-reel plays, an interesting mystery emerged. This was one that had nothing to do with the games themselves, but rather the sticks in the hands of Canadian players.

Ahead of the tournament, major hockey stick manufacturers, including CCM, Bauer, and True, provided players with customized sticks featuring special country-themed graphics. These sticks were likely built to each player’s exact specifications, ensuring that performance wouldn’t be sacrificed. The standout move that came from CCM, offered its athletes the chance to use their usual stick builds dressed in the graphics of their latest model, the “Vizion,” with a unique national team color scheme blended into the design.

Players from Team USA, Sweden, and Finland eagerly embraced the opportunity, proudly showing off their CCM sticks adorned with their country’s colors and the new Vizion branding. However, Team Canada was a glaring exception. Not a single Canadian CCM user opted for the special edition sticks.

This wasn’t due to a lack of CCM representation on the Canadian roster, either. Several key players like McDavid, Crosby, Reinhart, and Brandon Hagel are all well-known CCM guys. Yet, each one stuck with their tried-and-true stick graphics rather than embracing the flashy new look. This decision left fans and gear enthusiasts scratching their heads. Why did Canadian CCM players choose to ignore what was, by all accounts, a unique and visually striking opportunity?

For Crosby and McDavid, the reasoning is a bit more straightforward. Both superstars have long been known for sticking with older stick graphics, even as the company they represent has evolved with time. Crosby has famously used the Ribcor Reckoner design for several years, while McDavid is often seen with graphics from previous CCM models that date back at least 3-4 years. Their reluctance to change even minor aesthetic details wasn’t much of a surprise.

However, for other Team Canada CCM users, the decision was more unexpected. Players like Anthony Cirelli and Thomas Harley seemed like prime candidates to try out the special edition sticks, yet they too opted to keep things simple. Whether it was personal preference, superstition, or just an adherence to routine, the consensus among Canadian CCM users was clear: they weren’t interested in switching up their stick’s look, even for a high-profile international event.

This all ties back to a common theme in hockey. That being how players are extremely particular about their equipment. At the highest levels, even the smallest changes can make a difference in performance, or at least in a player’s confidence. If a certain stick pattern, flex, or even just the visual design has worked for years, why change it?

So while Team Canada’s players may not have embraced the flashiness of the 4 Nations Face-Off stick designs, they stuck with what worked. In the end, they all returned as Champions so who can argue with that?

Photo Credit: CCM Hockey