Special Poll
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a subtle jab at President Trump on Thursday following Canada’s victory over the U.S. in the 4 Nations Face-Off men’s hockey championship.
“You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game,” Trudeau wrote on social media, an apparent reference to Trump’s previous remark about making Canada the 51st state.
Canada secured a 3-2 overtime victory thanks to center Connor McDavid, who scored the game-winning goal. Fans are already looking ahead to a potential rematch at the 2026 Olympics, with Canada holding a strong track record against the U.S. after defeating them in the 2002 and 2010 Olympic Games.
Nathan MacKinnon, who was named Canada’s MVP, acknowledged the heightened emotions surrounding the match. “A lot of stuff going on with Canada and the U.S.A. right now, and us playing against each other was kind of a perfect storm for our sport,” he said.
The U.S. team had extended an invitation to President Trump to attend the highly anticipated game in Boston, but he was unable to attend due to prior commitments. Instead, he called the players before the game to offer words of encouragement.
The rivalry was evident from the start, with tensions surfacing during the playing of the national anthems. Some American fans booed during Canada’s national anthem, “O Canada,” while Canadians returned the favor by jeering during “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a previous game in Montreal.
With the competitive spirit running high, hockey fans on both sides of the border are already looking forward to the next showdown between these two powerhouse teams.