Canada’s hockey stars earned the country bragging rights over Donald Trump after sealing a dramatic overtime win against USA in Thursday’s 4 Nations final.
With tensions between the two countries at boiling point following Trump’s recent threats to impose tariffs on their neighbors, Canada got one over on the American president by claiming the championship on US soil in Boston.
After a hard-fought 2-2 draw in regulation time, the visitors clinched a famous win in the extra period thanks to superstar centre Connor McDavid, who powered the all-important winner past American goalie Connor Hellebuyck and into the net at 8:18 of overtime.
McDavid scored from close range to seal the most satisfying of victories for Canada in a final with added intensity amid Trump’s tariff threats and talk of making them the 51st US state.
Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett also scored for Canada. Goaltender Jordan Binnington made 25 saves in the first three periods and six more in overtime on the same ice where he helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup five years ago.
Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson scored for the Americans, while Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots in regulation and three more in OT before McDavid’s winner.
Canada earned a crucial overtime victory in Thursday’s 4 Nations final against USA
Tensions between the two nations were at boiling point amid Donald Trump’s threats to Canada
The rivalry between the neighboring countries turned sour heading into Thursday’s final amid the controversy surrounding Trump, who also referred to Justin Trudeau as ‘governor’ in a brutal swipe at the Canadian prime minister ahead of the hockey showdown.
Earlier in the day, he wished the United States’ players good luck with a rousing phone call.
‘I just want to wish you a lot of luck. You really are a skilled group of people,’ Trump said. ‘It’s an honor to talk to you… We love you guys. We’ll be watching tonight. Bring it home.
Yet after McDavid’s game-winning overtime goal, Trudeau couldn’t resist a dig at the US president, posting: ‘You can’t take our country and you can’t take our game’ in English and in Quebecois French.
While some congratulated Trudeau on Canada’s victory, many slammed the prime minister for his response.
‘You won a hockey game. You lost your country. You can’t fool anyone with distractions. Hockey games don’t buy you a home, lower taxes, generate jobs, improve the dollar and reduce crime. Call an election Mr hockey,’ wrote one.
Multiple people asked the governor: ‘Didn’t you resign?’
‘You can’t hockey your way out of this Justin,’ added another.
American fans booed the Canadian national anthem before the final got underway in Boston
But Connor McDavid (left) fired home the overtime winner to ensure Canada had the last laugh
The visitors recorded a famous win over their bitter rivals on their own patch Thursday night
USA players were left devastated after missing out on the championship at TD Garden
Brady Tkachuk lifted the trophy for Canada after they sealed the most satisfying of victories
Canadian supporters were left delighted with the win behind enemy lines on Thursday night
One more joked: ‘500% tariffs, and we’re going to take your land by force.’
Before the puck drop in Boston, American fans were heard booing the Canadian national anthem in a clear show of support for their president.
US supporters packed into the arena were heard jeering furiously when Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk began her rendition of ‘O Canada’, only to slowly quieten down as she continued.
The visiting fans in attendance could eventually be heard singing along proudly, before the Star Spangled Banner was performed to a huge ovation.
While the boos initially drowned out her voice, Kreviazuk was accused of ‘butchering’ the lyrics to the Canadian anthem by fans on social media, who brutally declared it ‘the worst rendition ever’.
During her performance, the songwriter changed the famous line ‘in all of us command’ to ‘that only us command,’ suggesting that Trump had better stay out.
However, a representative for Kreviazuk told the CBC that the switch was done on purpose in response to the US president.
Fans had already slammed the rendition online, blasting it as one of the worst they’d heard.
Social-media brutally ripped Chantal Kreviazuk’s rendition of the Canadian national anthem
After her performance Kreviazuk shared a photo revealing her bizarre plot against Trump
The American president sparked a bitter feud between the two nations heading into the game
‘That might be the worst Canadian anthem I’ve heard… Wow. I’m sure she was nervous but messing up lyrics multiple times in the first sentence is crazy,’ one wrote on X.
‘That singer that sang the Canadian anthem, is from Canada… Why didn’t she know the lyrics ??,’ another asked.
‘I dont know it, obviously, but it lowkey sounded like the woman singing the canadian anthem was singing like she was only about 70% sure she knew the lyrics lol,’ a third added.
Hours before Thursday’s final, Trump had sparked a Canadian hockey meltdown when he wished Team USA good luck in a message on X, which was shared by PK Subban – a former NHL star from Canada.
Subban was then furiously criticized by compatriot and fellow hockey player Akim Aliu, who accused him of siding with ‘the oppressor’ in Trump by sharing his post.
Aliu, who is Nigerian-born and half-Ukrainian, has previously opened up about the racism he suffered during his career and therefore took aim at the ESPN star, telling him ‘no one liked you’ and warning: ‘History will judge you accordingly’.
Former Canadian hockey player PK Subban was branded ‘a sell-out of the highest proportion’ for sharing a post by Trump before the game
Akim Aliu called fellow Canadian player Subban a ‘disgrace’
‘I’ve watched you from afar and never said anything for two main reasons. 1 being the respect I have for your brothers and parents & 2 I’ve always wanted to keep the in fighting between folks of color to a minimum,’ Aliu wrote.
‘This was something I couldn’t let go – I’ve known you since I was ten years old and played with you so I’d say I know you better than most at a deeper level.
‘You were a hell of a player and instead of using your platform you did everything in your power to gain acceptance and popularity, nothing with you has ever been genuine but transactional and usually for publicity reasons.
‘Even during this most sensitive time both politically and socially you take the side of the oppressor because that’s who you make your money from.
‘I would (have) thought the “love” you have always claimed for your country, a country you represented at the highest levels would shine through to push back on rhetoric of annexation and humiliation of the very land you are born and raised in, but even that doesn’t get you to do the right morally.’
