Canadian fans have been booing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ amid rising political tensions between the countries.
The animosity between the United States and Canada is quite high, and it was on display in multiple ways at the start of their Four Nations showdown on Saturday night. Before the puck was dropped, Canadian fans at Montreal’s Bell Centre booed the American national anthem for the second time in three days, and that was followed by three fights in the span of nine seconds to open the game.
Fistfights and booing during national anthem in turbulent U.S.-Canada ice hockey clash | National News | indianagazette.com
Canadian hockey fans have been booing the national anthem lately. Canadians who attended Team USA’s 6-1 win over Finland on Thursday were vocal about their disdain, and they continued to do so on Saturday night.
As the U.S. national anthem played, boos could be heard echoing throughout the arena.
As if anyone needed more examples of the acrimony between the two countries, the players made it abundantly clear as soon as the puck hit the ice. Right after the kickoff, Matthew Tkachuk knocked the gloves off of Canada’s Brandon Hagel.
On the puck’s next throw, the other Tkachuk brother joined in on the action as Brady Tkachuk and Sam Bennett went at each other. That was followed by six full seconds of hockey before Team USA’s JT Miller got tangled up with Canada’s Colton Parayko in another face-off.
Between the anthem boos and the combative start to the game, the rivalry between Team USA and Team Canada has ended its long hiatus in dramatic fashion.
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Prior to the Four Nations showdown, Canadian fans had been booing the US anthem for a couple of weeks. This was in response to President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Canada, as well as his suggestion that the country should become the 51st state.
Players on both sides have spoken out against booing during the anthem. In a recent appearance on “What Chaos,” Canadian Brad Marchand said it is disrespectful to veterans and claimed that hockey players have no say in political decisions.
“I don’t respect that at all,” Marchand said. “The anthems are there as a sign of respect for our veterans and everything they’ve sacrificed. [That’s] the reason we can play this game and have freedom. For them to boo that is disrespectful to veterans, which I don’t agree with at all.
“Plus, we play hockey. “We don’t have any say in what happens in politics. I don’t agree with those things.”
Team USA star Matthew Tkachuk was a bit more succinct when asked about his feelings after a two-goal performance against Finland.
“I didn’t like it and that’s all I got,” Tkachuk said.
While the booing may be a response to the off-court political landscape, it will also heighten tensions between two already bitter rivals over it.
