NHL executives want Canadians to avoid the “unfortunate situation” of playing the U.S. national anthem before competing games
The US-Canadian competition on the ice is a long-standing competition, but the competition seems to have become politicized.
The border countries will face-to-face hockey in four countries in Montreal, the first time the two countries play each other in the best form since the 2016 World Hockey World Cup.
When Team USA faced Finland in Canada on Thursday night, the crowd was anti-US, booed the American players and later the national anthem, despite the public speaking announcers begging fans to respect both national anthems.
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Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk celebrates the goal against Finland in the third phase in the four-country match at the Bell Center. (David Kirouac/Imagn image)
“I think it’s obviously an unfortunate situation. I don’t think anybody likes when anthems are booed or disrespected in any way, and certainly we count ourselves among that group,” Bill Daly, the NHL’s deputy commissioner, told Bloomberg’s “Business of Sports ” podcast.
Competition is a competition, but tensions are high between Canadians and the United States, with Donald Trump announcing a 25% tariff on goods imported from the North. He also said Canada could become the “51st state.”
Raptors and Senators fans visited the Stars and Stripes earlier this month when the United States visited Toronto and Ottawa. Vancouver Canucks announcer John Shorthouse even joked that the fine would be 2½ minutes Due to the tariff 25%.
Charlie McAvoy (25), Jake Guentzel (59), Zach Werenski (8), Auston Matthews ( Auston Matthews (34) and Jack Hughes (86) of the United Nations during the 4th National Anthem, stood on their blue line. The country plays Finland against Finland on February 13, 2025. (Vitor Munhoz/4nfo/Hocky World Cup via Getty Images)
Team USA star Matthew Tkachuk
Daly said the NHL is “monitoring the situation”.
“I do think this will fade a little bit,” Daly said. “Our experience is just over the past week, Montreal has been a positive experience where there are two American teams there. It will certainly help you do that,” said Daly. .”
Hockey dropped a U.S. regulation victory at 8 p.m. and will earn a spot in next Saturday’s single-game final. The two may play against each other when they move to Boston next week.
Matt Boldy (12) and Jaccob Slavin (74), Brock Faber (14), Kyle Connor (12) Connor (8) and JT Miller (10) celebrated the match against Finland in Montreal on 13 February 2025 after Boldy scored a second phase in the 4 countries. (Andrea Cardin/4NFO/World Cup Hockey by Getty Image)
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Canada beat the United States with an overtime goal by Sidney Crosby in the 2010 Olympic gold medal match in Vancouver in 2010.
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