Claudia
by Claudia Labelle

McDonald's Canada Ignites Hockey Fandom with Iconic ‘Showdown’ Comeback

1/8/2025

Work

Showdown x Face A Face (1)

McDonald’s Canada is excited to drop the puck on ‘Showdown’, a bold new campaign that fuses nostalgia with a modern twist to celebrate Canada’s love for hockey and its evolving culture.

The Showdown

Featuring hockey icons Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, this reimagined series breathes new life into the beloved 1990s ‘Showdown’ ads with a playful, competitive spin that fans won’t want to miss.

At its heart, the ‘Showdown’ creative captures the powerful connection between McDonald’s and hockey—a bond that’s as Canadian as backyard rinks and game-night rituals. The campaign highlights the natural chemistry between McDavid and Matthews, offering fans a rare and entertaining glimpse into their off-ice personalities.

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“By tapping into the authenticity and natural chemistry of these hockey icons, we’ve built a campaign that speaks to lifelong hockey fans and a new wave of enthusiasts alike. It’s all about celebrating the joy and camaraderie that hockey—and McDonald’s—bring to Canadians.”
Darya Klymenko 1
Darya Klymenko, Creative Director at Cossette.

The campaign, running from January 7 to February 10, 2025, will roll out across TV, social media, digital, radio, and out-of-home advertising.

The hero of the campaign? The Showdown Menu—a lineup of exclusive, hockey-themed food items, including:

The Big Mac-David: A Double Big Mac tribute to Connor McDavid

The Smoky Quarter Papi: A smoky BBQ Quarter Pounder inspired by Auston Matthews

Power Play Poutine: A fan-favourite dish for Quebecers, inspired by P.K. Subban’s flair

The Hat Trick: A triple play of flavour for those who crave more

Spicy Junior Chirpy: A fiery flavour that's bound to get the chirps going

Celly Sundae: Celebrate the perfect post-goal celly on the ice

 

CREDITS 

CLIENT
McDonalds Canada
Alyssa Buetikofer - Chief Marketing Officer
Rebecca Smart - Director of Marketing, Brand Strategy & ROD
Jamie Bone - Sr. Marketing Manager
Moira Heaney - National Marketing Supervisor
Mélissa Hains - Senior Marketing Director, Brand Strategy
Suzanne Grondin - Direction du marketing régional
Noémie Duchesne - Surveillance du marketing régional
Brenda Surminski - Claire-Randall Consulting
Catherine Gao - Social Lead & Brand Manager
Nezariel Scott - Social & Brand Specialist
Shaelyn Talusan - Marketing Specialist, Digital and Owned Content
Kristen Hunter - Canada Impact Team
Alexandra Scarlato - Canada Impact Team

AGENCY
Cossette Toronto
Bryden McDonald - VP, Managing Director
Driscoll Reid - Chief Creative Officer
Andrew Chisholm - Executive Creative Director
Jason Hill - Executive Creative Director
Darya Klymenko - Creative Director
Matt Moore - Creative Director
Cam Guest - Creative Director
Zeina Samaha - Senior Copywriter
Ben Bousada - Copywriter
Lindsay Hann - Agency Producer
Jenna Anderson - Executive Creative Director, Design
Luisa Bojaca - Designer
Brook Scott - Designer
Angel Chun - Digital Designer
Dan Cameron - Group VP, Head of Strategy
Nicole Stanhope - Senior Strategy Director
Nicole (Nico) Vasarevic - Senior Digital Strategist
Matt Nolson - Sr. Communications Strategist
Carly Syme - Group Business Director
Wendy Doan - Group Business Director
Emily Stoneman - Business Director
Mike Harris - Business Director
Santana Symeonides - Account Supervisor
Ashleigh Gomez - Account Supervisor
Annaig Perramant - Account Supervisor
Madison LeBlanc - Account Executive
Jess Zujko - Account Executive
Olivia Graham - Business Director, Social          
Brendon Samuel - Content Creator           
Panny Charoensuk - Content Creator
Lilly Nesbitt - Content Producer
Hayley Green - Community Manager
Mark Prole - Production Manager
Jeff Maynard - Program Manager, Digital
Gianna Blasutto - Senior Production Manager                                          
David Atkinson - Digital Senior Project Manager 
Evan Bowman - Junior Digital Content Manager
 

Cossette Montreal
Alex Gadoua - VP, directeur de la création
Marc-André Vigneault - Direction de création adjoint
Étienne LeBourdais, Philippe Brassard - Concepteur-rédacteurs
François Hiron - Directeur artistique
Simon Provencher-Girard - Concepteur-rédacteur social
Natalie Azoulay - Directrice, lead affaires
Maria-Laura Laubenthal - Cheffe de produit principale
Marie-France Cusson - Productrice d’agence
Catherine Richard - Productrice d’agence               
Antoine Cormier - Stratège
Farah Chaou - Gestionnaire de communauté et analyste

Credits

Client : McDonalds Canada
Alyssa Buetikofer - Chief Marketing Officer Rebecca Smart - Director of Marketing, Brand Strategy & ROD Jamie Bone - Sr. Marketing Manager Moira Heaney - National Marketing Supervisor Mélissa Hains - Senior Marketing Director, Brand Strategy Suzanne Grondin - Direction du marketing régional Noémie Duchesne - Surveillance du marketing régional Brenda Surminski - Claire-Randall Consulting Catherine Gao - Social Lead & Brand Manager Nezariel Scott - Social & Brand Specialist Shaelyn Talusan - Marketing Specialist, Digital and Owned Content Kristen Hunter - Canada Impact Team Alexandra Scarlato - Canada Impact Team
Cossette Montreal
Alex Gadoua - VP, directeur de la création Marc-André Vigneault - Direction de création adjoint Étienne LeBourdais, Philippe Brassard - Concepteur-rédacteurs François Hiron - Directeur artistique Simon Provencher-Girard - Concepteur-rédacteur social Natalie Azoulay - Directrice, lead affaires Maria-Laura Laubenthal - Cheffe de produit principale Marie-France Cusson - Productrice d’agence Catherine Richard - Productrice d’agence               Antoine Cormier - Stratège Farah Chaou - Gestionnaire de communauté et analyste
Production : Circle Productions, Nimiopere, Beacon Street Studios, Royal Muster, Feather, Septième