The anticipation of the crowd, the aroma of stadium snacks and the sound of the goal horn! We can only imagine what it might have been like to experience an NHL 4 Nations Face-Off game in person. Luckily, illustrator Dave Murray attended the Montreal games, so he’s taking us to the streets and inside Bell Centre stadium to share in the magic!

Working alongside Fanbrandz Creative Director Bill Frederick and NHL VP of Creative Paul Conway, Dave was commissioned to illustrate a series of players and the tournament trophy for the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off. The resulting imagery would be displayed along city streets, stadium walls and on team Canada’s championship t-shirts. As a passionate lifelong hockey fan, this was the ultimate dream project for Dave. Attending the event in person and to see his artwork on walls, buildings and banners was a real career milestone!

Tasked with illustrating a roster of players and goalies for each of the four teams, Dave first established a set of players in certain positions, then recreated the corresponding national jerseys in his unique style. Dave’s graphic approach and use of bold shapes lends itself perfectly to the body and form of these dynamic players and allowed them to be flipped for many different purposes.

Dave’s use of shading, layering and opacity creates a sense of movement. This motion reflects the intensity, excitement and emotion that filled the stands during this spectacular tournament. And if you didn’t notice, his details are expertly crafted, from the elements on each helmet, to the embossed logos and stitched threading on the arms of the jerseys. Dave doesn’t skip a beat in bringing these characters to life.

Take a closer look and experience Dave’s incredible artwork highlighting the energy and excitement of Canada’s national pastime. The good ol’ hockey game!

View more of Dave Murray's illustration. Represented by i2i Art Inc.