Amid all of the back-and-forth between the US and Canada, maybe it was solely becoming that the 2 North American neighbors met in primetime Thursday night time within the 4 Nations Face-Off last.
“A lot of stuff going on with Canada and the USA right now, and us playing against each other was kind of a perfect storm for our sport,” Canada and Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon stated after the sport, in line with ESPN. “It was much more popular than even we would have imagined. It was getting so much attention from our whole continent.”
That “perfect storm” resulted in maybe one of the crucial celebrated hockey video games in fairly a while, with the Canadians finally prevailing in additional time towards America, 3-2.
Rivalries apart, it supplied the kind of leisure that these concerned within the contest hope may also help gas a brand new era of followers.
“I hope [the new fans] love it,” stated Canada hero Connor McDavid, who scored the game-winning purpose, per ESPN. “It’s a great game, it’s a great sport and I hope we put on a good show these last couple days and gained some fans, ultimately. You can’t ask for a better show than that.”
Arguably essentially the most memorable hockey sport in fashionable tradition was the US’ upset of the closely favored Soviet Union within the 1980 Olympics in what is named the “Miracle on Ice.”
That sport occurred within the backdrop of the Chilly Struggle, intensifying the ramifications of the sport.
The USA and Canada aren’t partaking in a Chilly Struggle at the moment, however it’s actually truthful to say that the relations between the international locations proper now’s chilly.
President Donald Trump has persistently talked about a hope so as to add Canada because the 51st state, a lot to the northern nation’s chagrin, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau didn’t admire tariffs being imposed towards his nation, though they’ve since been delayed.
Trump has additionally referred to Trudeau as “governor.”
Such actions led to Canadian followers booing the US nationwide anthem through the video games north of the border, and a few U.S. followers booed throughout “O Canada.”
Trump known as the U.S. workforce earlier than Thursday’s tilt and once more hit on the 51st state message.
“I’ll be calling our GREAT American Hockey Team this morning to spur them on towards victory tonight against Canada, which with FAR LOWER TAXES AND MUCH STRONGER SECURITY, will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished, and very important, Fifty First State,” Trump wrote on Fact Social. “I will be speaking before the Governors tonight in D.C., and will sadly, therefore, be unable to attend. But we will all be watching, and if Governor Trudeau would like to join us, he would be most welcome. Good luck to everybody and have a GREAT game tonight. So exciting!”
These remarks led to Thursday’s “O Canada” singer, Chantal Kreviazuk, altering the lyrics from “in all of us command” to “that only us command.”
And as soon as Canada rallied for the win, tying the sport at 2-all within the second interval earlier than McDavid gained the sport in additional time, Trudeau didn’t miss his probability to strike again.
“You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game,” he posted to X, the platform owned by Trump confidant Elon Musk.
The political drama helped create a memorable match that maybe might be the start line of one thing nice.
“I think guys that are at home watching this, I’m hoping they’re wanting a piece of it,” U.S. ahead and Crimson Wings star Dylan Larkin stated, per ESPN. “This grew the game really well, but I hope it pushes guys to want a piece of this and then the next generation that got to watch this, they’re going to watch the Olympics next year and hopefully there’s a different outcome.”
