USA vs. Canada Hockey: When Pucks, Fists, and Anthems Collide

February 16, 2025

In what can only be described as a diplomatic crisis on ice, the USA and Canada faced off in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off at Montreal’s Bell Centre. The game had everything—fighting before the puck even hit the ice, a national anthem scandal, and enough bad blood to fuel a Netflix sports docuseries.

For those who tuned in expecting a polite, technical game of hockey, bless your innocent hearts. Instead, fans got a borderline MMA match in skates, a history lesson in why Canadians and Americans can never just be chill, and a reminder that the Tkachuk brothers exist solely to make hockey games more chaotic.

Anthem Antics: Boo Who?

Things went sideways before the game even started when the Canadian crowd greeted The Star-Spangled Banner with a deafening wave of boos loud enough to be heard across the border. Despite the Bell Centre announcer’s earnest plea for respect, the fans responded with the level of grace usually reserved for a referee making a bad call in overtime.

Now, was this about hockey? Not really. The tension stemmed from ongoing political drama, mainly U.S. President Donald Trump’s off-the-cuff suggestion that Canada should just become the 51st state. Unsurprisingly, Canadians did not appreciate the offer.

While booing national anthems is a tradition that most countries frown upon, Canadians usually pride themselves on their reputation as the world’s friendliest neighbors. But when it comes to hockey and unsolicited merger proposals, all bets are off.

Drop the Puck? More Like Drop the Gloves

If the anthem scandal didn’t set the tone, what happened next made it crystal clear—this was going to be a war, not a hockey game.

Exactly nine seconds after the puck dropped, three separate fights broke out, confirming that nobody came here to play defense. Leading the charge were Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, who never met a hockey game they couldn’t turn into a personal grudge match.

This wasn’t just about hockey—it was a full-blown family feud on ice.

Somewhere in the chaos, referees briefly considered breaking things up before realizing that it was easier to just let everyone get it out of their system. By the time the dust (or ice shavings) settled, multiple players had already served time in the penalty box, and the first period wasn’t even two minutes old.

Pucks and Politics: A Slapshot to Diplomacy

As if this game needed more layers of drama, the political undertones refused to stay in the locker room. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in attendance, watching as his home crowd happily participated in international relations the Canadian way—by hating Team USA with every fiber of their being.

Meanwhile, U.S. defenseman Drew Doughty tried to smooth things over in post-game interviews, saying that while he understood the frustration, booing another country’s anthem is never a great look. That message, however, may have gotten lost in translation, considering the fans would’ve booed an actual bald eagle if one flew into the arena.

The Game Itself: Oh Yeah, Hockey Happened

Eventually, some actual hockey was played.

Canada struck first with Connor McDavid scoring in the opening minutes, sending the already-rowdy crowd into a frenzy. But rather than deflating, Team USA responded like a team that had been personally insulted by a Tim Hortons commercial.

Jake Guentzel became a one-man wrecking crew, scoring two crucial goals, including a second-period equalizer that completely silenced the building. Dylan Larkin added a third goal for good measure, securing a 3-1 win for Team USA.

For Canada, this loss was especially painful. Not only did they lose on home ice, but the defeat snapped their 17-game winning streak in best-on-best international play. Somewhere, a group of elderly Canadians probably sighed, turned off their TVs, and quietly whispered, “This is worse than losing Wayne Gretzky to the Kings.”

Post-Game Reactions: Grudges Will Be Remembered

After the game, USA’s Dylan Larkin could barely contain his excitement, calling it “one of the best games of my life.” That statement alone probably caused three Canadian sportswriters to throw their laptops across the room.

Meanwhile, Canada’s locker room looked like a funeral service. Players tried to downplay the loss, but the reality was clear—this wasn’t just another hockey game, this was a full-blown national embarrassment.

Over in the U.S. locker room, players celebrated by blasting "Born in the U.S.A.", which, let’s be honest, was done solely to annoy any Canadians walking past.

What’s Next: The Rematch That Needs to Happen

With this level of pure, unfiltered animosity, there’s no question that the next USA vs. Canada matchup is going to be personal.

Some hockey rivalries fizzle out, but this one? It just got more intense.

The good news is that these two teams might meet again in the 4 Nations Face-Off finals, meaning the hockey gods may bless us with another gloves-off, anthem-booing, penalty-box-filling grudge match.

And if that happens, one thing is certain—nobody is showing up for the strategy, we’re all here for the chaos.

Final Thoughts: Hockey Night in Pure, Unfiltered Hatred

The USA vs. Canada game wasn’t just a sporting event—it was a front-row seat to one of the pettiest international rivalries on the planet.

The boos, the brawls, the lingering grudges—it was everything you could want from a hockey game that also moonlighted as an international incident.

For the Americans, this win was the ultimate revenge tour. For Canada, this loss was a soul-crushing reminder that even hockey supremacy can be stolen, if only for a night.

And for the rest of us? We’re just praying for a rematch.