A combination of hockey intensity, national pride, politics and great games combined to make the all-star break tournament one of the more surprising sports events in recent memory

The U.S. and Canada men’s ice hockey teams, set to play in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament final on Thursday night, have come to represent more than just their athletic skill. On both sides of the border, the rivalry in the rink has been seen by some as an extension of the political tensions between the once-friendly allies.

Thursday night's USA-Canada championship game at the 4 Nations Face-Off showed viewers' appetite for best-on-best international hockey. ESPN said the game, which Canada won 3-2 in overtime on a goal by Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, averaged 9.3 million viewers, its biggest hockey audience ever. It peaked at 10.4 million.