President Donald Trump will not be at 4 Nations Face-off championship between Team USA and Canada on Thursday, but he gave Americans a phone call ahead of time.
After publishing Truth Social, where he again proclaimed Canada “One day, maybe soon, our … fifty first state,” the Trump called the team while in the dressing room of TD Garden in Boston the morning of the game.
“It was so amazing to get his support,” said JT Miller, one of three Americans to drop the gloves in the first US-Canada match, on Thursday via Athletic. “It’s a pretty big deal for him to take time out of his schedule to talk to us for five minutes. It’s just another of the things where we kind of squeeze ourselves this tournament.”
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The United States’ teammates celebrate an empty goal over Canada under 4 Nations Face-off match in Montreal on Saturday, February 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/the Canadian press via AP)
Team US General Manager Bill Guerin said Trump dropped a 51. State reference to the team.
“But I just wanted to try to focus on the message he gave us,” Guerin said. “I’ve said it before: We’re here to play Hockey. This is not a political forum. This is a hockey tournament. And he is just trying to be supportive in the best way he could and we value it.”
Guerin added, “He was just very supportive and just said, ‘Hi, you will do well. It will be a great game. Just relax and play.'”
“That’s the president of the United States,” added defender Brock Faber. “When you are a child, you never think it will be an option. It was really cool.”
Players and fans stand for the US national anthem before the 4 Nations Face-off games between Canada and the United States in Montreal on February 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/the Canadian press via AP)
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“It’s pretty crazy, and it’s an honor for all of us here in representing your country and getting a call from the president,” Frem Brock Nelson said. “Also, just appear, I think it’s a big game not only for hockey, but for beyond the game. It’s something we’ll remember.”
Matt Boldy added, “Obviously he is a very influential person in the world. It’s special. I think it talks to how good the tournament has been for hockey and the exposure that has been given to a new group of fans. ”
The rivalry extends over lots of time, but with political tensions between the two countries it is now warmer than ever before. Canada owns a 13-4-1 record of Team USA in best-to-best format, including two Olympic Gold Medal victories (2002 and 2010) and an Olympic semi-final victory in 2014.
The United States score against Finland during their 4 Nations Face-off games at Bell Center on February 13, 2025 in Montreal. (Other Ringuette/4nfo/World Cup of Hockey Via Getty Images)
The puck falls in Boston at. 20 et.
