Canada defeated the U.S.A. in their second match-up during the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, a series of games between NHL players from Finland, Sweden, the United States and Canada.
Recent political hostilities between Canada and the United States were reflected in the tournament, with both sides defending their national pride. Canadians are weary of Trump’s threat to annex their country, as well as the recent talk of tariffs being implemented. Players on the U.S. team reacted with aggression after Canadian fans booed their national anthem.
The face-off took place on Feb. 20, with 9.3 million viewers on ESPN watching during overtime to witness one of the most notable and politically unique NHL games. This is the largest viewership on ESPN for an NHL game in hockey history.
“The Canadians are very invested in their nationalism right now and they wanted America to lose more than ever,” said Gabe Bergh, a sophomore interdisciplinary studies major. “But what they did was extremely disrespectful and they should be ashamed of themselves.”
Bergh’s statement reflects the emotions many American fans experienced during Game 1. The Canadian fans booing the U.S. national anthem added a layer of intensity and resentment that was noticeably present in this game. For instance, three fights took place in the first nine seconds of the match, ending with a 3-1 victory for the US.
Ironically, Canada emerged victorious in the second game after the U.S. fans booed “O Canada” at the start of the match. Tensions were higher than ever.
Canada’s tournament MVP, Nathan MacKinnon, center, scored the opening goal, with Conner McDavid, center, ending the tournament by striking a game-winning goal during overtime in Game 2. Jordan Binnington, their goalie, had 31 saves which ultimately highlights his strong composure under pressure. All three of these players were crucial in Canada’s victory over Team USA in the tournament.
On the American side, Brady Tkachuck, left-wing, utilized his intensity and compassion for the sport to score the US’s first goal of the game, tying the score. Jake Sanderson, on defense, scored the second goal which put the U.S. ahead for a small portion of time. Lastly, Conner Hellebuyck, the goalie, made 27 contributing saves.
Though the intensity the U.S. team brought to the tournament did not lead them to victory, they still gave the Canadians a tough game to win. The game was pushed into overtime with the two teams fighting hard to defend their nationality.
As a contributing factor to the intensity of the game, both teams were a part of countries currently locked in political turmoil. In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that Canada would be better off if it were to become the 51st state.
“I think Canada would be much better off being the 51st state because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada. And I’m not going to let that happen,” said Donald Trump, according to Fox.
Additionally, Trump has placed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum from exporting countries. Canada has not yet received the implications of the tariff, but it is likely to happen in the upcoming weeks.
An extra layer of intensity was added to the games because of the strong patriotism of the U.S. and the defensiveness of Canada. The fights from Game 1 and the constant aggression between the players in Game 2 showcase this national pride.
“I think bringing politics into hockey heightens the tensions and distracts from the game itself, which I don’t think is good for hockey,” said Dean Wisenbaker, a sophomore history major. “The focus should be specifically on hockey, not who’s playing it.”
The desire to keep politics and sports separate is a common sentiment among fans. Lots of individuals find themselves wanting to stray away from politics and use hobbies, such as watching sports, to reset and de-stress from the hot political atmosphere.
Other fans find themselves enjoying the aggressive nature of the games due to recent events.
“When I watch hockey, my favorite part is watching the fights,” said Madi Morton-Leach, a junior psychology major. “It makes it more exciting and the fans have more team pride.”
Fans like Morton-Leach believe that this combination of politics in Game 2 connected the teams to their respective fans and heightened the excitement of the game.
Naturally, sports and politics have been and will continue to be present, especially in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The tournament was more than just a few games, it was a reflection of the passion and emotions behind the current global events. The record-breaking viewership also adds to the reason why this match might be remembered in hockey history.