Jordan Binnington Named Starting Goalie for Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off Opener

 MONTREAL – St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington will be Canada’s starting goalie in their 4 Nations Face-Off opener against Sweden on Wednesday at Bell Centre (8 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS).

Canada head coach Jon Cooper made the announcement on Tuesday, emphasizing Binnington’s competitive nature and big-game experience.

"He’s got fire in his belly, he’s a competitor, and we are confident in him," Cooper said.

This marks the first international best-on-best tournament featuring NHL players since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, when Canada last claimed victory. At that time, Binnington had played only one NHL game, but he later became a Stanley Cup champion with the Blues in 2019.

A Proven Big-Game Goalie

Binnington has struggled at times this season, posting a 15-19-4 record with a 2.89 GAA and .896 save percentage in 39 games. However, his ability to perform in clutch moments played a key role in Canada’s decision.

Canada GM Don Sweeney, who witnessed Binnington’s Game 7 victory over the Bruins in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, expressed full confidence in the selection:

"I had a front-row seat to Jordan Binnington rising to that occasion. I have no qualms about him starting."

Binnington’s Blues teammate Colton Parayko echoed the sentiment, calling him a "big-time goalie" who thrives under pressure.

Hill Named Backup; Canada Ready to Compete

Backing up Binnington will be Adin Hill, who won the 2023 Stanley Cup with Vegas Golden Knights. Meanwhile, Sam Montembeault remains available if needed.

Forward Brandon Hagel summed up Canada’s belief in Binnington:

"He’s going to give you 100 percent. That’s exactly what you want from your goalie."

With Canada’s superstar lineup, including Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar, Binnington will have strong support as he leads them into this highly anticipated international tournament.

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