The USA-Canada hockey rivalry reached its hottest level earlier this month on the 4 Nations Face-Off, and the followers — and politics — performed main roles.
In USA’s first sport of the event, which was in opposition to Finland in Montreal, the Canadian crowd booed the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Two days later, the Montreal crowd once more booed the USA anthem earlier than the 2 bordering international locations acquired into three fights within the first 9 seconds of their extremely anticipated staff.
Positive, politics might not have instantly led to the fights, however they positive have been the primary issue for the big boos.
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Overview of the stadium through the US Nationwide anthem previous to the beginning of the through the first interval in opposition to Group Canada through the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship sport at TD Backyard. (Brian Fluharty-Imagn Pictures)
The nationwide anthem battles started earlier this month when Ottawa Senators followers booed the “Star-Spangled Banner” on Feb. 1, when Trump’s tariffs on items from Canada to the U.S. have been set to be carried out (they’ve since been delayed). It additionally occurred throughout a Toronto Raptors sport the subsequent day, and it carried over all the way in which to Boston, when People faintly booed the Canadian anthem in each of their video games on USA soil.
Sean McDonough was on the decision for the ultimate, which wound up being a 3-2 additional time win for Canada over USA, however he stated whereas he wanted to maintain deal with the ice, he felt a must deliver up the politics between the 2 international locations.
“I feel on this occasion, we needed to say one thing,” McDonough stated on the “Sports activities Media” podcast. “I felt like I needed to say one thing as a result of it was a problem — and I assume I contributed to it by what I stated on the radio present, however there wanted to be some acknowledgment.”
Canada gamers rejoice after a objective by Nathan MacKinnon through the first interval of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey sport in opposition to the US, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Picture/Charles Krupa)
USA-CANADA 4 NATIONS FACE-OFF CHAMPIONSHIP RACKS UP HISTORIC VIEWERSHIP AS TENSE RIVALRY CONTINUES
McDonough, earlier that week, stated he had hoped People did not boo the Canadian nationwide anthem forward of the ultimate, which he stated grew to become a giant deal within the media.
“I had stated earlier than — it’s wonderful how our enterprise works. I’m on a few speak exhibits. I acquired requested in regards to the booing, and I stated, ‘I hope they don’t boo.’ ‘I simply hope the People don’t boo. I perceive why the Canadians are upset: the tariffs, the 51st state stuff.’ And to the purpose that persons are extra on this due to that, that was way more, in my expertise, a problem in Canada than it was in Boston. There have been folks speaking about, ‘Oh, the politics of it,’ the place in Canada, they have been.”
“It’s fascinating how our factor works,” he added. “I stated, ‘Effectively, I hope they don’t boo.’ Effectively, then the headlines on these articles grow to be ‘Sean McDonough [inaudible] to not boo,’ like I known as a press convention and stated, ‘Don’t boo.’ All I stated was, ‘I hope they don’t boo.’ But it surely’s like I known as a press convention and begged folks to not [boo]. I answered a query and stated, ‘I hope they don’t boo.'”
Group USA ahead Auston Matthews (34) and former hockey participant Mike Eruzione and former hockey participant Wayne Gretzky and Group Canada ahead Sidney Crosby (87) through the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship sport at TD Backyard. (Brian Fluharty-Imagn Pictures)
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McDonough added that, had he recognized Canadian anthem singer Chantal Kreviazuk purposely modified the phrases as a shot at President Donald Trump, “I’d’ve acknowledged.” However, he initially thought it was an unintentional flubbing of the lyrics.
The win improved Canada’s document in opposition to USA in best-on-best codecs to 14-4-1, with wins together with the 2002 and 2010 Olympic gold medal video games and the 2014 Olympic semifinal.
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