Four Goal Songs USA Hockey Could Use for the Four Nations Faceoff

I am a goal horn/song afficionado.

Back in 2023 I ranked every single goal horn/song combination in the NHL (which I might revisit down the road) and formed some very strong opinions on what different teams chose.

So I got to thinking, what goal songs could Team USA use in the Four Nations Faceoff? Full disclosure, I am American, and Team USA generally changes theirs on a semi-consistent basis.

My challenge is to not use a goal song that is currently being used by an NHL franchise. So, here are my top-four candidates to be the red, white, and blue's anthem for the tournament.

The Boys Are Back - Dropkick Murphys

I really wanted to get this list started with "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by Dropkick Murphys, but I was having a hard time picking a timestamp to start it. It's a great song, but it's functionality not a goal song (which is fairly important here).

"The Boys Are Back" by Dropkick Murphys is a great alternative, though. It's very nostalgic sounding. While it's not super "in your face", its vibe fits USA Hockey, which has really started to make a comeback on the international stage with the World Juniors championship this year.

Start it at 2:32 and let it rip.

Note: Objectively, this song is far and away better than "The Boys are Back in Town" by Thin Lizzy that USA Hockey used in 2024...and it's not even close. *ducks for cover*

Runnin' Wild - Airbourne

This is your classic heavy rock driving song from the 2000's and it would go ballistic as the USA goal song. Play it at 1:32 at the start of the pre-chorus and let it fly through the main chorus at 103mph.

Lyrics are always important to me for goal songs. Imagine the first thing an opposing goalie hears after he gives up a goal is, "You can cry me a river, cry me a river of tears." This is psychological warfare I'm trying to wage.

And, hear me out, we get some crowd participation involved. When it gets to the "Wild and free!" part of the chorus, how 'bout a thunderous, rhythmic "U-S-A" from the American crowd in synch with the words. Whew! Fire me up!

What Else You Got - The Protest

This one's a much more exotic American headbanger. I'm a huge fan of lesser known songs that are still on par in quality to the mainstream hits. Popularity is oftentimes a crutch because you miss good songs like this.

Again, I'm on the lyrics sending a statement to the other team's goalie. The quick line saying, "I'll see you at the finish line," is also a good reminder for yourself in the midst of battle.

Start at 1:20 and let it go into the electric guitar solo before restating the chorus.

Come on, throw it at me. What else you got?

Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd

What? You thought this wouldn't be on here? Man, you're really doubting the fact that I'm American, aren't you?

I said I couldn't use any NHL team's song, but I didn't say I couldn't use a USA Hockey song that had already been used.

This is it. This is the only option.

I can rank all 80 some-odd million songs that exist in the known world, but Free Bird is the ONLY option for USA Hockey moving forward. The fact it took them until this year to figure it out is astounding.

Play it at 4:43 yada-yada-yada, just look at this live video from Teddy Stiga's golden goal to win the World Juniors.

USA Hockey has had a small handful of good goal songs, namely Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" from 2019.

Some other good ones were "Shout" by Isley Brothers, Kernkraft 400's "Zombie Nation", and "Howlin' For You" by The Black Keys (R.I.P. the Coyotes), but each of them are already NHL goal songs.

Even still, Free Bird is the one and only option for Team USA. That's it. Locks. It's over. Indisputable. Thanks for coming, have a nice day.

If you can actually think of a better song, tweet at us @PensLabyrinthFS on Twitter/X and if you manage to truly give a me better goal song, I'll gift you a signed Phil Kessel Penguins jersey and a lifetime supply of hot dogs.

Good luck, bucco.