A rendition of the Canadian national anthem was briefly drowned out by boos from US hockey fans before Thursday night’s 4 Nations final in Boston.
Amid controversy surrounding American president Donald Trump and his threat to impose tariffs on their neighbor country, USA and Canada are locking horns in what promises to be a fiery battle on the ice at TD Garden.
As is custom before sporting fixtures, the two teams’ respective national anthems were performed before the championship game got underway.
And US supporters packed into the arena were heard booing furiously when Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk began her rendition of ‘O Canada’.
However, as the anthem continued the jeers appeared to slowly fade out, before the visiting fans in attendance could be heard singing along proudly.
Thursday night’s championship game is being played amid heightened tension between the two countries, with Trump stoking the fire by threatening tariffs and taunting Canada about becoming America’s 51st state.
The Canadian national anthem was briefly drowned out by boos from US hockey fans in Boston
USA are facing Canada amid the controversy surrounding American president Donald Trump
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He has also referred to Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau as ‘governor’ in a brutal swipe at the Canadian prime minister ahead of the hockey showdown.
Earlier in the day Trump sparked a Canadian hockey meltdown when he wished Team USA good luck in a message on X, which was shared by PK Subban – a former NHL star from Canada.
Subban was then furiously criticized by compatriot and fellow hockey player Akim Aliu, who accused him of siding with ‘the oppressor’ in Trump by sharing his post.
Aliu, who is Nigerian-born and half-Ukrainian, has previously opened up about the racism he suffered during his career and therefore took aim at the ESPN star, telling him ‘no one liked you’ and warning: ‘History will judge you accordingly’.
‘I’ve watched you from afar and never said anything for two main reasons. 1 being the respect I have for your brothers and parents & 2 I’ve always wanted to keep the in fighting between folks of color to a minimum,’ Aliu wrote.
‘This was something I couldn’t let go – I’ve known you since I was ten years old and played with you so I’d say I know you better than most at a deeper level.
‘You were a hell of a player and instead of using your platform you did everything in your power to gain acceptance and popularity, nothing with you has ever been genuine but transactional and usually for publicity reasons.
‘Even during this most sensitive time both politically and socially you take the side of the oppressor because that’s who you make your money from.
‘I would (have) thought the “love” you have always claimed for your country, a country you represented at the highest levels would shine through to push back on rhetoric of annexation and humiliation of the very land you are born and raised in, but even that doesn’t get you to do the right morally.’