Anarchy broke out at the hockey game between America and Canada on Saturday night with three fights on the ice just moments after the US national anthem was booed.
There were three separate brawls within the first nine seconds of the game in Montreal as tensions continue to flare between the nations after President Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canada.
Trump also suggested the country could become America’s ’51st state’, prompting backlash from a close neighbor and longtime ally.
With Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sat in the stands, the home fans once again showed their anger towards Trump by jeering ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’.
The booing came despite desperate pleas from PA announcers inside Centre Bell to ‘respect the national anthems’ before it played.
In front of a raucous atmosphere, America’s Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel of Canada were the first to take their gloves off and fight on the ice.
There were three fights inside nine seconds during the game between Canada and America
America’s J.T. Miller and Colton Parayko of Canada exchange blows in a red-hot atmosphere
Brady Tkachuk and Sam Bennett wrestle each other to the ground as chaos broke out
Once they had been separated, Tkachuk’s brother, Brady, then started a fight with Sam Bennett.
Six seconds after that a third fight exploded with Colton Parayko and J. T. Miller exchanging brutal blows.
When the action finally took center stage, the Canadian fans were first to celebrate when Connor McDavid scored the opening goal.
The anthem was also booed in Montreal when the US played Finland on Thursday night, as well as before the NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and Minnesota.
It coms after President Trump ordered 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and 10% on goods from China, sparking major trade war fears.
Trudeau said Canada would respond with 25% tariffs against $155billion of U.S. goods, including beer, wine, lumber and appliances, beginning with $30billion taking effect Tuesday and $125billion 21 days later.
Trump has – temporarily – paused his plans, giving Canada and the US a month to negotiate the planned import tax on all steel and aluminum products entering America from March 12.
On Thursday, though, Trump did threaten further tariffs on both Canada and France over their digital services taxes on US technology giants.
Boos could be heard ringing around the Bell Centre in Montreal during the US national anthem
Canadian fans loudly booed the US national anthem before their hockey game on Saturday
President Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canada and suggested the country could become America’s ’51st state’, prompting backlash from a close neighbor and longtime ally.
Canada, seeking to address the challenge of taxing digital giants like Google parent Alphabet and Amazon.com that can book their profits in low-tax countries, began imposing the tax in June last year.
Trump tasked his economics team on Thursday with devising a plan to impose reciprocal tariffs on every country that levied duties on U.S. imports.
A White House fact sheet, stating that ‘only America should be allowed to tax American firms,’ complained Canada and France used digital services taxes to each collect over $500 million per year from U.S. companies.
‘Overall, these non-reciprocal taxes cost America’s firms over $2 billion per year. Reciprocal tariffs will bring back fairness and prosperity to the distorted international trade system and stop Americans from being taken advantage of,’ said the fact sheet. It gave no further details.
More to follow.
