Tensions Rise Ahead of USA vs. Canada Hockey Game
With the USA and Canada facing off in a highly anticipated championship game this week, reports have surfaced that former President Donald Trump will not be attending the match in Boston.
The two countries are already embroiled in tense relations, with Trump recently suggesting tariffs on Canada.
The rivalry has escalated, especially after a particularly intense game between the two teams in Montreal on Saturday, which was marked by three fights in the first nine seconds.
The atmosphere was even more charged when Canadian fans, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, loudly booed the American national anthem before the game.
The Call for Trump to Attend
USA Hockey’s general manager, Bill Guerin, made a public plea for Trump to support the team from the stands, acknowledging the rivalry between the two nations.
But according to hockey insider Frank Seravalli, Trump, 78, is not planning to attend the game.
Seravalli shared the news on social media, confirming that Trump had no intention of showing up to the USA vs.
Canada #4Nations championship in Boston.
Despite the political tensions, Guerin expressed hope that the presence of the former president could give the team a morale boost.
He acknowledged that the heightened emotions from recent political disputes might add a layer of intensity to the game.
Trump’s Role in the Rivalry
Trump has stirred the pot even further with his comments about Canada, including threats of tariffs and even suggesting that Canada could become the 51st state of the United States.
These remarks have caused a significant backlash, especially from Canada’s leadership and citizens, who have also protested by booing the American national anthem at sporting events.
On the other hand, Guerin believes that the US team channeled the intensity of the rivalry as motivation for their game.
He noted that such events, while politically charged, are part of the competitive spirit that makes the USA-Canada hockey rivalry so fierce.
Guerin even referred to Saturday’s game as “the highest level of hockey ever played.”
The National Anthem Controversy
As the game in Boston approaches, ESPN commentator Sean McDonough weighed in on the controversy surrounding the national anthems.
He expressed hope that American fans would refrain from booing the Canadian anthem, as it had become a point of contention in recent weeks.
McDonough, who is a Boston native and part-time radio broadcaster for the Boston Red Sox, urged fans to show respect for Canada’s anthem, emphasizing that the political tensions should not overshadow the spirit of the game.
“I really hope our people don’t boo the anthem,” McDonough said.
“Let’s be better than that.
I think we all have a lot of respect for what a great country Canada is.”
Trump’s Recent Public Appearances
Trump’s absence from the upcoming game comes after he attended the NASCAR Daytona 500 in Florida over the weekend.
He had also been in New Orleans earlier this month to watch the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl victory.
Despite these public appearances, it seems that the former president will skip this heated hockey showdown.
With both nations gearing up for Thursday’s game, the stakes are higher than ever, and the tension surrounding the event is likely to boil over.
Fans, players, and commentators alike are hoping that the rivalry stays focused on the sport and not the politics that have divided the two countries.
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