What was said in Wednesday's post practice Team USA media availability

Following Team USA's 4 Nations Face-Off practice in Boston on Wednesday, players were made available to the media to discuss Thursday night's championship game. New York Rangers forwards Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller in addition to defenseman Adam Fox were among the American players who discussed the final against Team Canada.

Here's what they had to say.

Significant 2/19/25 Quotes from Vincent Trocheck

Trocheck has seen play in all three games so far and has tallied one shot across 11:34 TOI. At 31-years-old, he serves as one of the veteran players on Team USA.

Trocheck said that there is plenty of excitement in the air as the final 4 Nations game approaches.

"[There's] just a lot of excitement in here," Trocheck said. "[With] a couple days in between games so the anxiousness is starting to build ... rest is always good to have a little bit so [if] there's anybody feeling sick or a little banged up, to have that time to get a little better."

"It's just going to be a tight checking game. It's obviously very high intensity so [we're] going to have to bring the same intensity we brought last game," said Trocheck.

"I don't think [the level of play] is very comparable to be honest with you," Trocheck said."I think it's probably the most skilled, highest intensity and just best game I've ever been a part of."

"Just being here in general is obviously a huge honor. To be able to play for your country and to be able to play against Canada in the final game is something that everybody here dreams of as a kid," Trocheck said. "Team USA versus Team Canada is a best-on-best tournament after playing against each other in the round robin and seeing the intensity of that game, this is just as good as it gets."

When asked specifically about Canadian center Connor McDavid, Trocheck said Team Canada is full of plenty of talent.

"[Team Canada] is special. They're obviously extremely talented. Everybody on that team really,. but they have a few guys that have tremendous skill and talent. It's obviously a tall task to try and shut them down but we're up to the task and we're going to have to if we want to win," Trocheck said.

Significant 2/19/25 Quotes from Adam Fox

Fox is one of two defenseman selected from the Rangers' roster to compete in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Finnish teammate Urho Vaakanainen was the other, but Fox is the only Blueshirt defenseman with the U.S.

"I mean we know the importance. I think this whole tournament, from the start, you felt that intensity," Fox said. "This is probably the most jacked up I've been for a game so I'm ready to get it going for sure."

"You don't really know what to expect. We knew the intensity would be there from the outside perspective. I think anytime we get to throw on the USA sweater for any of the guys for your country, you wear that with a lot of pride," Fox said.

"You come here [and] you just want to play well and help the team," Fox said. "I think this group is a relatively young group and hopefully could be together and have a lot of success."

When asked about the break in play leading up to puck drop, Fox said it was beneficial for the Red, White and Blue.

"It's good for us for guys to heal up, be ready to go and just get a chance to mentally reset. We maybe worked out some extra kinks in practice too," said Fox.

"Like we've said, it might not be fights from the start or anything like that but the intensity will be high and maybe even higher. Obviously the gold medal is on the line, but you throw USA and Canada in there and it's going to be high intensity," Fox said. "We're going to lay it all on the line."

Significant 2/19/25 Quotes from J.T. Miller

Miller has also played in all three games for the Americans leading up to Thursday evening. Aside from Chris Kreider who scored a goal against Sweden, Miller has made the most impression on the tournament's statsheet so far with three shots.

"I think we've done a good job of keeping it day-to-day and worrying about our daily tasks," Miller said. "We have one game to win and that's why we came — to win. We're playing against a rival and we wouldn't want it any other way."

Miller said that while this is one of the more important games of his life, his NHL career along the way has helped mentally prepare him for it.

"All of those other moments help you prepare for this. I feel better going into this game than I have in all the other ones in the sense of calmness and knowing what I need to bring," Miller said. Bring what I'm capable of for my teammates."

Championship Game Information

This marks the ninth championship appearance for Canada (6‑2) in as many NHL international tournaments and third for the United States (1‑1).

The 4 Nations Face-Off will reach its thrilling conclusion when Canada and the United States meet in the championship game tonight – Thursday, Feb. 20 – at TD Garden (8 p.m. EST, ESPN, ESPN+, Disney+, SN, TVAS).