WP: Booing an anthem? Three brawls in nine seconds? Welcome to USA-Canada hockey! (2-16-25)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/02/16/usa-canada-hockey-fights-booing-anthem/

There hadn’t been a fight in an international hockey tournament since the NHL hosted the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, but then there hasn’t been an international hockey tournament at a time of such strained relations between the United States and Canada.

Against the backdrop of President Trump’s talk of making Canada the 51st state and imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods, Saturday night’s 4 Nations Face-Off game between the two countries began when the sold-out crowd in Montreal’s Bell Centre booed the American national anthem. The spirit quickly spilled over onto the ice, with three fights in the first nine seconds of the highly entertaining game, which the United States won, 3-1.

The matchup was an emotional one for Canadian fans who booed “The Star Spangled Banner” despite the public address announcer asking — in French and English — “in the spirit of this great game that unites everyone that you kindly respect the anthems and the players that represent each country.” Fans had also booed before Team USA’s game Thursday night, prompting forward Matthew Tkachuk to say, “I didn’t like it, and that’s all I got” after a win over Finland. The boos, which were louder Saturday night, were a continuation of those at NBA and NHL games in Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver earlier this month as well.

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