BOSTON – On Thursday, President Donald Trump reached out to the United States hockey team to extend his best wishes ahead of their final match against Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
USA Hockey shared a snapshot on social media, featuring general manager Bill Guerin in the locker room, proudly holding a phone. Players expressed their gratitude and excitement for the opportunity to hear from Trump after their morning skate.
U.S. center J.T. Miller commented, “It was incredibly exciting to receive his support. It’s significant that he took time out of his busy schedule to speak with us for five minutes. We’re really embracing this experience during the tournament.”
Defenseman Noah Hanifin added, “We’re hoping to secure the victory tonight, not just for ourselves, but for our country and for Trump.”
Trump shared via Truth Social that he would be watching the match, wishing the U.S. success against Canada. He reiterated his stance on Canada potentially becoming the 51st state of America, a remark that has drawn notable reactions. Fans in Montreal voiced their dissent by booing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at previous games, increasing the tension surrounding Trump’s comments and his stance on tariffs.
As the tournament moved to Boston, U.S. fans at TD Garden also lightly booed “O Canada” before a Monday afternoon face-off against Finland. This season, the U.S. clinched a win over Canada with a score of 3-1 in their round-robin match, a game that notably featured three brawls in its opening nine seconds. Matthew Tkachuk, who initiated one of the fights, stated that the anthem booing had no influence on their fight decisions.
Earlier in the week, Guerin expressed on Fox News that the team would be delighted if Trump attended the final, although the President had a prior engagement at the Republican Governors Association Meeting in Washington.
Regarding the idea of Canada joining the U.S. as a state, Trump elaborated on Truth Social, stating, “If Prime Minister Trudeau is interested in joining us, he would certainly be welcomed. Wishing everyone good luck, and have an incredible game tonight. It’s such an exciting moment for us!”
Trump reaches out to US hockey squad prior to final match against Canada in 4 Nations Face-Off
