The confrontation match of the United States and the 4 nations of Canada on Saturday evening quickly became a slugfest when several players dropped gloves after hoots for “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
The Americans beat Canada, 3-1, at the Bell Center in Montreal, but the American defender Zach Werenski was not satisfied with the hoots during the national anthem. In the NHL, hoots were heard during the song after Trump announced prices in Canada, which has since been interrupted. The president also teased Canadians with the idea that Canada becomes the “51st state”.
CLICK HERE for more sports cover on Foxnews.com
USA Matthew Tkachuk team striker, on the right, celebrates his goal with defender Zach Werenski during the Finland team match at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, February 13, 2025. (Images of David Kirouac-Imagn)
However, the hoots were heard.
“We knew it was going to happen,” said Werenski. “It happened the last game, it happened in the NHL before that, and we knew that tonight was going to be in the same way. We obviously don’t like it.”
The United States faced hoots before its match against Finland and then won 6-1.
“That’s what it is,” said Werenski. “We had a sort of an idea. We used it as a motivation of the best we could and found a way to get a victory. But we had an idea to go there, so it was not a Surprise.
Saturday’s match saw three fights occurring in the first nine seconds.
Canada fans, with Trudeau in the presence, Boo ‘Banner Spangled Star’ before Game vs. USA despite the hindsight
Canada Brandon Hagel and Matthew Tkachuk from the United States in their 4 nations game match in Montreal on Saturday, February 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi / The Canadian Press via AP)
Matthew Tkachuk fought Brandon Hagel out of the opening game, his brother Brady fought with Sam Bennett and JT Miller fought Colton Parayko. Brady Tkachuk told ESPN that his brother’s fight “occurred quite organic”.
“Matthew said he wanted to go first, it just happened and now it’s over and finished,” he said. “It’s just when Matthew discovered the starting training, he said he wanted a piece of him (Hagel).”
Hagel added that he thought it was a “long come” between him and Matthew Tkachuk.
Conor McDavid started scoring for Canada, but the United States responded with a goal from Jake Guentzel. Dylan Larkin scored in the second period to take the lead. GUENTZEL then put an empty network.
Canada Brandon Hagel is fighting with Matthew Tkachuk in the United States in Montreal on Saturday, February 15, 2025. (Graham Hughes // Canadian Press via AP)
“It’s just incredible, the atmosphere, to play on this scene in Canada, it was pretty cool for all of us, I think,” added Guentzel. “There is a lot of excitement from our team that comes out for warm -ups and see how much it was. It was quite special.”
