The real winner of the Four Nations Faceoff was the sport of hockey

The people who follow hockey as their favorite sport get it, but it's hard to change the minds of the football and basketball fans in North America. The NHL could've played this tournament in September, but they risked going up against the NFL and college football in prime time. Instead, they chose to do it in the middle of February after the Super Bowl while the NBA was in their All-Star break. The result? Millions of eyes on the world's most exhilarating sport, and that's a meaningful thing for the future of our game.

The NHL struggles to beat the other big four North American sports in ratings. As we can see from the rising salary caps and massive television deals, it has been improving, but there is still a long way to go. The league needed to find an event that showcased how great our sport could be, and best-on-best international hockey was the perfect outlet.

The first Canada and USA showdown in the round robin showed all the unique parts of hockey, including three fights in the first nine seconds. It hooked all the fans on how great hockey can be, with the brutal physicality and Connor McDavid's brilliant rush to open the scoring, showcasing the speed of the sport's top players.

It would have been difficult for the championship to meet those expectations. The final game didn't have the fights, but it still had some massive hits and physical play. We also saw great defense and goaltending, but the stars stepped up again, which ended the tournament on a high note. Nathan MacKinnon scored the opening goal, and after a 2-2 tie that sent the game to overtime, Connor McDavid scored the winner.

Fifteen years ago, Sidney Crosby scored the golden goal to defeat the USA in the Vancouver Olympics. For the new fans, this McDavid goal means more than just a championship, as it's a passing of the torch from the last generation's legendary Canadian hockey player to the guy trying to chase his legacy. This tournament wasn't the Olympics, but that doesn't make it mean any less for McDavid and the Canadians.

So, what can the new fans expect when they start tuning in to the NHL for the rest of the season? It won't have quite the same skill level or intensity as this tournament, but please stick around through the next 20 games. After the regular season ends in mid-April, we'll see two months of the greatest postseason in sports.

The Four Nations Faceoff brought plenty of new hockey fans on board. The test now will be to keep them engaged and watching when it isn't Canada vs. USA in a championship game. A bi-annual international tournament will help, but let's hope the new eyes stay locked into the NHL. The players deserve it, as all the diehard hockey fans know it's the most exciting and demanding sport in the world.

So, if you're a Canadian fan, enjoy the win. If you're an American fan, better luck next year, and look ahead to many great years of USA Hockey. If you're a hockey fan, welcome the new eyes and be happy knowing the sport is in good hands with the players who represented it at this tournament.