Fans in Montreal Loudly Boo US Anthem Prior to 4 Nations Face-Off Game vs. Canada
A Chilly Reception for the “Star-Spangled Banner”
For the second time in two games, the US national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” drew a chorus of boos from fans in Montreal prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off game between the United States and host Canada on Saturday night.
A Plea for Respect
Public address announcer Michel Lacroix asked the crowd, in both French and English, to “in the spirit of this great game that unites everyone, kindly respect the anthems and the players that represent each country.” However, the request fell on deaf ears, with a significantly larger portion of the fans at Bell Centre booing the anthem than on Thursday night before the US game against Finland. The boos lasted for the entire length of the song.
Player Reactions
US starting goaltender Connor Hellebuyck downplayed the incident, stating, “I paid no attention to it. You have free speech. You can do whatever you want. If you’re going to boo the anthem, we sing it for the troops that protected our freedom. That doesn’t really mean anything to me. You can do whatever you want. But I don’t use it at all.”
US coach Mike Sullivan also dismissed the significance of the booing, saying, “That’s really not something that we can control. We just want to play hockey. We want to compete. We want to represent our nation in the right way.”
A Historical Context
This is not the first time the US national anthem has been booed by Canadian fans. Fans across Canada have been booing the US anthem at NHL and NBA games since President Donald Trump’s repeated references to Canada becoming the “51st state.” Trump also threatened tariffs against the country, prompting backlash from a close neighbor and longtime ally.
A Canadian Perspective
Canada defenseman Drew Doughty, an opponent of the practice, stated, “Obviously I know what’s going on, and I understand the Canadians’ frustration, but I think we should respect the anthems and stuff like that. I don’t think anyone should be booing.”
Conclusion
The booing of the US national anthem by Canadian fans has become a recurring theme, with this incident being the second time it has happened in two games at the NHL-run international tournament. While some players and coaches may choose to ignore the incident, others like Connor Hellebuyck and Drew Doughty have expressed their opinions on the matter. Ultimately, the focus remains on the game, with both teams vying for victory in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
FAQs
* What was the context behind the booing of the US national anthem?
+ The booing was in response to President Donald Trump’s repeated references to Canada becoming the “51st state” and his threats to impose tariffs on the country.
* How did US players and coaches react to the booing?
+ US starting goaltender Connor Hellebuyck downplayed the incident, while coach Mike Sullivan dismissed its significance, stating that it’s not something they can control.
* What was Canada defenseman Drew Doughty’s view on the matter?
+ Doughty opposed the practice, believing that fans should respect the anthems and national representations.
