Canadian national anthem receives mixed reception at hockey game amid Donald Trump controversy
The Canadian national anthem was jeered by some fans on Monday at the 4 Nations Face-Off in Boston – just days after ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ was loudly booed when Canada and the United States’ hockey teams faced off on Saturday.
Amid provocative rhetoric from President Donald Trump – including suggesting the country should be the USA’s 51st state and placing new tariffs on the northern neighbors – tensions have risen between the allies.
‘O Canada’, on Monday, was not met with the level of vitriol that the American national anthem received over the weekend in Montreal, but a smattering of boos could still be heard in the crowd amid mostly cheers before Canada faced Finland.
Before the anthems were played, the public address announcer asked ‘that you kindly respect the nation, its inhabitants and the players that represent each country.’
During player introductions, the Canadian team received a louder but still mixed greeting, with the exception of forward Brad Marchand, whose full-time job is with the Boston Bruins. The Finns were met with mostly silence.
The crowd featured many fans in red Canadian sweaters.
Plenty of Canadian fans were in the stands on Monday as their team took on Finland in Boston
President Donald Trump has recently stoked tensions between the USA and Canada, as he’s floated the idea of adding Canada as America’s 51st state.
The American national anthem was loudly booed when the USA faced Canada in Montreal
After Trump said he was serious about Canada becoming the 51st state in a Super Bowl interview, fans across Canada have booed the US anthem at NHL and NBA games.
Canada and Mexico also ordered retaliatory tariffs on American goods in response to sweeping tariffs imposed by President Trump.
‘We can play the game all they want,’ Trump later said.
That tension came into the spotlight on Saturday before the United States played Canada, as ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ was loudly booed before the Americans won 3-1 in a highly-anticipated ‘4 Nations Faceoff’ clash.
The NHL has taken a pause for the ‘4 Nations Faceoff’ – a mini tournament held between the USA, Canada, Sweden, and Finland as a tune-up before NHL players are finally allowed to compete again at the Winter Olympics .
The Canadian fans drowned out any negativity on Monday with cheers as they went on to beat Finland 5-3.
With the victory in regulation, Canada advanced to Thursday night’s finals against the United States.
The finals will also be held in Boston at the TD Garden.
