Trudeau Takes a Jibe at Trump Amidst Canada's Hockey Triumph Over US
Following a nail-biting ice hockey victory against the USA, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau couldn't resist poking some fun at President Donald Trump. "You can't take our country - and you can't take our game," Trudeau jested.
The gripping 3-2 overtime win for Canada in the 4 Nations Face Off finals in Boston unfolded amidst escalating tensions between the two countries. The looming shadow of a potentially detrimental trade war and Trump's continuous suggestions of annexing Canada as the 51st US state added to the tension.
Recently, the American national anthem has often been met with boos from Canadian sports enthusiasts. However, this time, it was mainly US fans that were up in arms. As their jeers echoed around the stadium, the Canadian national anthem was sung with altered lyrics as a form of protest against Trump's remarks.
Chantal Kreviazuk, the singer, intentionally replaced "in all of us command" with "that only us command." She expressed her sentiments in an Instagram post, saying, "We should express our outrage in the face of any abuses of power."
The fixture would have been significant under any circumstances due to the long-standing friendly rivalry between the two nations. However, recent happenings added an extra layer of excitement. Connor McDavid's sudden-death goal, which clinched the victory, sent the traveling fans into a frenzy.
Although President Trump couldn't attend the game, he wished the team luck over the phone. He reiterated his aspiration to integrate Canada into the US, expressing in a Truth Social post that he hoped Canada "will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished and very important, Fifty First State".
According to ice hockey journalist Daniel Nugent-Bowman, the final was a highly anticipated matchup for fans across North America. This was the first significant clash between the top men's ice hockey players from Canada and the US since the 2014 Winter Olympics.
The game featured numerous prominent National Hockey League (NHL) players, including Canadians Mitch Marner and McDavid, and Americans Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel. It offered these emerging talents a platform to showcase their skills.
In Canada, the game held a personal significance, providing both passionate and casual fans a chance to revel in national pride during a period of potential threat to the country's sovereignty from its closest neighbor.
Ice hockey undoubtedly holds a special place in Canadian national identity. The sport has witnessed some of the most patriotic moments in Canada's history, such as Sidney Crosby's overtime gold medal goal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Historically, Canada has maintained an edge over the US in ice hockey. Since the 1976 Canada Cup, the two nations have faced each other 20 times in significant tournaments, with Canada emerging victorious 14 times.