Canadian fans boo American national anthem, players brawl as US takes 3-1 win at 4 Nations Face-Off

A heated atmosphere at the Bell Centre on Saturday night saw Canadian hockey fans loudly boo the US national anthem before the American team defeated Canada 3-1 in the NHL-run 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.

As Royal Canadian Air Force member David Grenon began singing "The Star-Spangled Banner," Canadian fans erupted into boos in an apparent attempt to drown out the anthem. By the end of the song, US fans tried to make their voices heard but were overpowered by Canadians in attendance. In contrast, "O Canada" was performed without any significant jeering, according to the New York Post.

The game itself saw its fair share of conflict, with multiple brawls breaking out between players. Just nine seconds into the game, three separate fights erupted, including an altercation between Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel immediately after the puck drop that saw the two throw their gloves and begin sparring.

Despite Canada scoring first in the game, the US responded with three unanswered goals to secure victory and advance to the tournament final in Boston. Jake Guentzel led the way for the Americans with two goals, while Dylan Larkin added another.

The hostile reception toward the US anthem comes amid ongoing political tensions between the two countries. Recent disputes over trade have fueled animosity, with US President Donald Trump threatening tariffs on Canada and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowing retaliation. The implementation of these tariffs was delayed, however, as the two leaders came to an agreement that would see Canada strengthening border security on the US northern border, addressing one of Trump’s long-standing complaints.

Despite the agreement, tensions remain high. Trump has recently mocked Trudeau, suggesting Canada would benefit from becoming part of the US.

“Look, the people would pay much less tax than they’re paying right now, they’d have perfect military protection,” Trump said in the Oval Office last week.

“Why would we pay $200 billion a year in subsidies to Canada when [they’re] not a state?” Trump asked. The president also referred to Trudeau as a "governor," implying Canada is effectively a US state.

Trudeau attended Saturday’s game, wearing a jersey with the Canadian maple leaf.