Team USA and Team Canada are facing international best-at-best hockey at. 20 a Saturday in Montreal, and the effort is high.
This is the first time in nine years that NHL players will be able to compete in the bitter rivalry as the NHL stopped giving players the opportunity to play in such an event since the World Cup in 2016.
“I’ve been thinking about this game for nine years,” Team USA star Matthew Tkachuk said via SportsNet.
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Team USA Forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-off Ice Hockey Games at the Bell Center. (David Kirouac-Preferred Pictures)
Adding to what will already be a warm contentious game on the ice, there is another part of the highly expected matchup that fans will look at: National Anthems.
Before Team US 6-1 win over Finland on Thursday, which was also in Montreal, the Canadian fans lived during the game “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“I didn’t like it. That’s all I got,” Tkachuk Postgame of Boos said.
And Tkachuk played as someone who didn’t like it when he and his brother, Brady Tkachuk, each scored two goals in the victory.
The Canadian fans would be wise not to give the tkachuk -brothers or team USA more reason to be fired up against Team Canada Saturday,
“I think it’s going to be the biggest game I’ve ever played in my career. I really look forward to it. There’s a big build up to that. The US vs. Canada is bigger than just the guys on the ice,” Brady said Post game.
Team USA star Matthew Tkachuk delivers Stern One-Liner after Canadian fans boo during the US national anthem
Team USA Forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-off Ice Hockey Games at the Bell Center. (David Kirouac-Preferred Pictures)
“There are so many people past, present and down the road [that it affects]. We have talked in particular about this game. It’s going to be a long couple of days [waiting] Until it happens, but it will be exciting. “
Team Canada Star and Boston Bruin’s captain, Brad Marchand, were not happy with BOOS from Canadian fans during the national anthem.
“They shouldn’t booing Americans under the anthem. They have nothing to do with the political things going on. I feel bad for these guys at that moment. I don’t think that’s right,” Marchand said via the athletic.
“We respect hymns; I will leave it by it,” Team Canada Captain Sidney Crosby via ESPN.
Since President Donald Trump’s threat of issuing tariffs in Canada and even saying that the country could become the “51st state”, it has been common for Boos to be heard during the US national anthem.
Canadian Hockey Fans Boo Team USA players, National Anthem at 4 Nations Tournament in Montreal
Charlie McAvoy, #25, Jake Guentzel, #59, Zach Werenski, #8, Auston Matthews, #34, and Jack Hughes, #86 of Team States stand by their Bluelin during the song of US Nations Face-off games between US and Finland in Bell Center on February 13, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. (Vitor munhoz/4nfo/World Cup of Hockey Via Getty Images)
Both Toronto Raptors and Ottawa Senators fans have booed US’s national anthem since the customs were to begin.
Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke via phone last week just before another 25% Tariffs should take effect on Canadian goods coming to the United States.
Trudeau said Canada will implement a $ 1.3 billion border plan and designate a fentanyl -czar, in a post to X.
Trump had promised to introduce a 25% duty on all Canadian and Mexican goods as well as a 10% duty on Canadian energy as he has long said that the countries have not done enough at the borders.
With the Canadian audience, who now supports their own team on Saturday, Boos could be thundering during the United States National Song.
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Team USA tip Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates with his teammates his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-off Ice Hockey Game at the Bell Center. (David Kirouac-Preferred Pictures)
Team USA Forward JT Miller said Booing gets them fired up.
“I think we like it. Not politically, but just in the sense that we know where we’re in Canada. I think it’s firing us up more than anything else,” Miller said via new Mail.
Team Canada also won their first match of the tournament, a 4-3 overtime thriller on Wednesday.
While their national anthem may not be booed, they will definitely be ready to roll for Saturday night.
“It’s a big game,” Team Canada Super Star Connor McDavid told journalists after practice on Friday.
Team Canada Tip Sidney Crosby (87) is preparing for a face-off against Team Sweden during the second period during a 4 Nations Face-off Ice Hockey Game at the Bell Center. (David Kirouac-Preferred Pictures)
“To play Americans in Montreal, best-on-best tournament, that’s what you dream of.”
In addition to the excitement of the NHL players being able to participate in the US-Canada Hockey rival, there is a scenario that if Team USA wins, they can squeeze a place in the Boston final next Thursday night.
It is safe to say that both of these teams will bring their best Saturday night.
