The US and Canada’s 4 Nations Face-off matchup Saturday night quickly became a swallowing party as more players fell gloves after BOOS under “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The Americans defeated Canada, 3-1, in the Bell Center in Montreal, but US defender Zach Werenski was unhappy with booing during the national anthem. In the NHL, Boos has been heard during the song after Trump announced customs duties in Canada, which has since been a break. The president has also teased Canadians with the idea that Canada became the “51st State.”
CLICK HERE for more sports cover at Foxnews.com
Team USA Forward Matthew Tkachuk, Right, celebrates his goal with defender Zach Werenski under the team Finland Game in Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, February 13, 2025. (David Kirouac-Preferred Pictures)
Still BOOS has been heard.
“We knew it was going to happen,” Werenski said. “It happened the last game it happened in the NHL before this, and we knew that tonight would be the same way. We obviously don’t like it.”
The United States was facing Boos in front of their match against Finland and later won 6-1.
“That’s what it is,” Werenski said. “We had kind of an idea. We used it as motivation best we could and found a way to get a victory. But we had an idea of going into it, so it wasn’t a surprise. Definitely doesn’t like it, though.”
Saturday’s game so three games occur in the first nine seconds.
Canada fans, with Trudeau present, again boo ‘Star-spangled Banner’ before Game vs. US Despite Pushback
Canadas Brandon Hagel and Matthew Tkachuk of the United States are fighting during their 4 Nations Face-off games in Montreal on Saturday, February 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/the Canadian press via AP)
Matthew Tkachuk fought for Brandon Hagel from the opening of Faceoff, his brother Brady threw with Sam Bennett and JT Miller fought for Colton Parayko. Brady Tkachuk told ESPN that his brother’s fight “happened pretty organically.”
“Matthew said he would go first, it just happened, and now it’s over and done,” he said. “That’s right when Matthew found out the starting lineup he said he would have a piece of him (Hagel).”
Hagel added that he thought it was a “long time coming” between him and Matthew Tkachuk.
Conor McDavid started the scoring for Canada, but the US answered with a Jake Guentzel goal. Dylan Larkin scored in the second period to take the lead. Guentzel then set an empty night.
Canadas Brandon Hagel is fighting with the US Matthew Tkachuk in Montreal on Saturday, February 15, 2025. (Graham Hughes // The Canadian press via AP)
“It’s just incredible, the atmosphere, to play at this step in Canada, it was pretty cool for all of us, I think,” added Guentzel. “There is a lot of excitement from our team coming out for warm -ups and just seeing how packed it was. It was pretty special.”
