After Canadian Hockey Fans Boo US National Anthem, Boston Crowd Returns The Gesture

Ahead of a recent 4 Nations game in Canada against a U.S. team, some home-team fans decided to let out some boos as a singer belted out America’s national anthem.

A few days later at a game in Boston against the Canadian team, some American fans decided to respond in kind when “O Canada” was performed.

A mixture of cheering and boo’ing for the Canadian national anthem in Boston ahead of Canada vs Finland at the #4Nations pic.twitter.com/yVXWLrjiA9

— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) February 17, 2025

The New York Post covered some of the context surrounding the international tensions spilling into the world of sports:

On Monday, Team Canada held off Finland for a 5-3 win at the TD Garden, this time, some fans in attendance returned the jeers during the singing of “O’ Canada.”

With the game not involving Team USA, the hostility on the ice did not exactly match that of Saturday night’s contest, in which the Canadian crowd rained boos down during the U.S. anthem in Montreal, with the jeers overpowering any semblance of support for the anthem.

The Canadian boos likely came due to the current political climate between the two countries, as President Trump has threatened tariffs and called for Canada to join the United States as the 51st state.

The Canadian Flag Day booing seemingly wound up the Americans, who engaged in three fights in the round-robin game’s first 10 seconds en route to a 3-1 win that placed the U.S. in the inaugural 4 Nations final.

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The initial booing from the Canadian crowd attracted widespread criticism on social media:

Canadians: Canada doesn't want to be apart of America, so we boo your National Anthem.

Americans: 😂pic.twitter.com/t2eSWjKlLN

— General™️ (@TheGeneral_0) February 16, 2025

Never boo your future anthem, Canada!pic.twitter.com/cEkcCz0P8k

— 🇺🇸 (@FreeStateWill) February 16, 2025

❌ USA vs. Canada hockey match started off in MADNESS

THREE fights in the first NINE seconds

Boo Our National Anthem and We finna whoop that ass 😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/H6lBwKXCpx

— {Matt} $XRPatriot (@matttttt187) February 16, 2025

The Hill reported on the earlier game:

It’s the first time a fight has broken out at an international hockey tournament since 2004, but it also comes at a time of strained relations between the two countries, The Washington Post reported.