Hockey fans at the Bell Centre in Montreal made their stance clear on Saturday night, loudly booing the American national anthem before joining in a thunderous rendition of “O Canada” ahead of the highly anticipated 4 Nations Face-Off matchup between Canada and the United States.
The crowd erupted in cheers as the Canadian team took the ice following introductions by MMA legend Georges St-Pierre. However, the atmosphere shifted when warrant officer David Grenon of the Royal Canadian Air Force Band began singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Jeers rang through the arena, despite an appeal for respect from public address announcer Michel Lacroix.
With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in attendance, the crowd then dramatically flipped its energy, passionately belting out “O Canada” when Grenon turned the microphone to the fans.
The charged atmosphere extended onto the ice, as the game erupted in physicality right from the opening faceoff. Canada’s Brandon Hagel dropped the gloves with U.S. forward Matthew Tkachuk immediately after the puck dropped, followed by fights between Sam Bennett and Brady Tkachuk, and Colton Parayko and J.T. Miller within the first nine seconds.
Saturday’s anthem booing marked another instance of tensions flaring at Canadian sporting events amid ongoing political disputes between the two nations. Similar incidents occurred during NHL games in Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent tariff policies targeting Canada. Trump has also made controversial remarks suggesting Canada could become the 51st U.S. state, further fueling frustrations among Canadians.
The reaction has been divisive, with players from both teams calling for respect.
“I’d like to see all anthems respected,” said Canadian star Connor McDavid. U.S. captain Auston Matthews echoed a similar sentiment, stating, “Obviously don’t love to see that, but it is what it is.”
Despite the political backdrop, Saturday’s game marked a thrilling return to high-stakes competition between Canada and the U.S., with the 4 Nations tournament serving as a prelude to the NHL’s return to Olympic competition in 2026.
The tournament now moves to Boston for a pair of round-robin games on Monday before Thursday’s final.