Fans in Montreal loudly booed the U.S. national anthem before the 4 Nations Face-Off game between the United States and Canada on Saturday, marking the second time in the tournament that "The Star-Spangled Banner" was met with jeers.
Despite public address announcer Michel Lacroix urging fans to respect the anthems, the crowd at Bell Centre reacted with sustained boos as warrant officer David Grenon of the Royal Canadian Air Force Band performed the song.
U.S. defenseman Zach Werenski acknowledged the hostility but said it served as motivation in the team’s 3-1 victory over Canada.
"We knew it was going to happen," he said. "We obviously don’t like it."
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck dismissed the reaction, saying he focused on the game. "You have free speech," he said. "If you're going to boo the anthem, we sing it for the troops that protected our freedom."
The game’s intensity was evident early, with Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel dropping the gloves off the opening faceoff, sparking a series of fights within nine seconds.
Forward Jake Guentzel, who scored twice, described the atmosphere as "unbelievable."
Anthem booing has occurred at past NHL and NBA games in Canada, often linked to political tensions. Veteran defenseman Drew Doughty, however, discouraged the practice. "I think we should respect the anthems," he said.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ