US-Canada Hockey Faceoff Erupts into Fisticuffs Amidst National Anthem Booing
Montreal, Quebec – The highly anticipated 4 Nations Face-Off between the United States and Canada on Saturday evening descended into a heated affair, with multiple fights breaking out in the game’s opening seconds following jeers and boos during the American national anthem.
The Americans ultimately emerged victorious, defeating Canada 3-1 at the Bell Centre in Montreal. However, the lingering bitterness over recent tariffs and political tensions between the two nations cast a pall over the contest.
US defenseman Zach Werenski expressed his displeasure over the disrespectful treatment of the national anthem before the game. "We knew it was going to happen," Werenski said. "It happened the last game, it’s been happening in the NHL before this, and we knew tonight was going to be the same way. We obviously don’t like it."
The booing during the anthem has become a recurrent issue in the NHL since President Trump announced tariffs on Canadian goods, which have since been temporarily suspended. The president has also playfully floated the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state, further fueling Canadian resentment.
"It is what it is," Werenski added. "We kind of had an idea. We used it as motivation the best we could and found a way to get a win. But we had an idea going into it, so it wasn’t a surprise. Definitely don’t like it, though."
The animosity spilled over into the game itself, with three separate fights occurring within the first nine seconds. Matthew Tkachuk engaged Brandon Hagel in a scrap off the opening faceoff, while his brother Brady squared off against Sam Bennett. J.T. Miller and Colton Parayko also dropped the gloves in a heated exchange.
Brady Tkachuk downplayed the significance of his brother’s fight, calling it an "organic" occurrence. Matthew Tkachuk had expressed his desire to fight Hagel prior to the game.
Hagel, for his part, acknowledged that a showdown with Matthew Tkachuk had been brewing for some time.
Conor McDavid briefly put Canada ahead with a goal, but the United States quickly equalized through Jake Guentzel. Dylan Larkin gave the Americans the lead in the second period, and Guentzel sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the game’s closing moments.
"It’s just unbelievable, the atmosphere, to play on this stage in Canada," Guentzel said after the game. "There’s a lot of excitement from our team coming out for warmups and just seeing how packed it was. That was pretty special."
Despite the tumultuous events surrounding the game, the United States emerged victorious, adding another chapter to the storied rivalry between the two hockey powerhouses. However, the underlying tensions between the nations remain a cause for concern as the two sides navigate a complex and evolving political landscape.
