Hockey final turns political as U.S. and Canada face off

The U.S. and Canada are set to clash in the 4 Nations Face-Off final, but this year’s matchup has taken on a political edge. With tensions between the two countries heightened under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the game has become more than just a battle for hockey supremacy.

Canadian fans send a message

During Saturday’s game in Montreal, Canadian fans loudly booed the U.S. national anthem, a growing trend linked to Trump’s repeated jabs at Canada’s trade policies and sovereignty. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in attendance, posted a video of the crowd proudly singing “O Canada” with the caption, “We stand on guard for thee,” a statement many saw as a subtle dig at Trump.

Physical play and online celebrations

The animosity extended beyond the crowd as players engaged in three scuffles within the first nine seconds of the game, which ended in a 3-1 victory for the U.S. The aggressive play was met with enthusiasm from Trump supporters online, who framed the win as a sign of American dominance.

Team USA embraces the political fire

U.S. general manager Bill Guerin acknowledged the political undertones of the game, saying, “I think our guys used that as inspiration.” He even invited Trump to attend the championship game. While the former president declined, he took to Truth Social to declare that he would call the team to “spur them on towards victory.” He also reignited controversy by suggesting Canada could become the U.S.’s “cherished, and very important, Fifty First State.”

A historic showdown in Boston

The 4 Nations Face-Off, replacing this year’s NHL All-Star Game, has brought intense competition among the U.S., Canada, Sweden, and Finland. Canada has historically dominated best-on-best tournaments, winning nine of the last 13, while the U.S. has only claimed victory once, in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.

With the final set for Thursday night in Boston, the game is expected to draw record-breaking viewership as the rivalry between these two nations intensifies both on and off the ice.