McDonald’s Canada has teamed up with NHL superstars Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid for a new video spot where they play each other for a Big Mac. The new campaign is a throwback to the QSR’s iconic 1993 and 1997 “Showdown” playbook, which featured NBA rivals Michael Jordan and Larry Bird and popularized the phrase, “nothing but net.”

In a special made-for-Quebec version of the ad, former Montreal Canadiens’ defenseman P.K. Subban is featured chirping from the side lines.

“In the spirit of the game that unites us all, we are excited to partner with some of today’s most exciting hockey stars,” Alyssa Buetikofer, chief marketing officer at McDonald’s Canada, said in a press release. “Our new Showdown menu is a tribute to the love Canadians have for hockey and McDonald’s. We’ve combined the thrill of the game with our iconic menu items to create a lineup that’s sure to score with our guests. This is more than just a meal – it’s an experience that brings the excitement of a hockey showdown right to your table. We can’t wait for our fans to get a taste of the action!”

The campaign supports McDonald’s Showdown menu, which includes the Big Mac-David (Double Big Mac), the Smokey Quarter Papi (Smokey BBQ Quarter Pounder) and the Spicy Junior Chirpy (Spicy Buffalo Junior Chicken).

The Showdown menu is starting on Jan. 7 at participating McDonald’s restaurants across Canada for a limited time.

The campaign was developed by creative agencies Cossette and Cossette Montreal. Weber Shandwick did PR and OMD took care of media.

It’s not the first time McDonald’s Canada has enlisted a beloved pro athlete for one of its campaigns. In 2023, Toronto Raptors’ star Pascal Siakam helped launch the Raptors-hued Siakam Swirl McFlurry.

In December, McDonald’s Canada and creative agency partner Wieden + Kennedy unveiled its holiday campaign featuring Dr. Seuss’ iconic Christmas character The Grinch. Last summer, McDonald’s commissioned a series of western-styled murals to coincide with the Calgary Stampede, as part of the brand’s “It’s a McDonald’s Thing” platform.