Boomer congratulates NHL on scoring big with 4 Nations Faceoff: 'Amazing experience'
Boomer Esiason was crushed to see Team USA fall to Canada in overtime in the 4 Nations Faceoff championship game, but overall, he saw it as a massive win for the NHL, and hockey as a whole.
"I congratulate the NHL. I congratulate the players," Boomer said. "It was an amazing experience, and what were they playing for? They were playing for pride. They love their game. The culture of the game is in a great place.
"As a die-hard hockey fan, I loved every minute of it. I watched nearly every minute of every game."
At a time where the Pro Bowl Games continued to generate little interest, and the NBA All-Star Game's tweaked format didn't lead to any less criticism, the NHL soared with the inaugural 4 Nations event, and Boomer says it's thanks to players competing for national pride, even if the tournament wasn't for an Olympic gold medal or a Stanley Cup.
"I appreciate the effort these players put forth," Boomer said. "This was so much more than an exhibition."
