Connor McDavid #97 of Team Canada reacts after scoring the game-winning goal during the first overtime period of the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship game between Team Canada and Team United States at TD Garden on February 20, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo: Ben Jackson/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images
Canada beat Team USA 3-2 in an overtime 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Game in Boston, Massachusetts, thriller on Thursday night, which saw political tensions spill into the arena.
The big picture: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a swipe at President Trump’s call for Canada’s annexation as the 51st U.S. state moments after the win, saying on X: “You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.”
- Trump said on Truth Social earlier Thursday he was calling Team USA to spur them on towards victory tonight against Canada, which with FAR LOWER TAXES AND MUCH STRONGER SECURITY, will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished, and very important, Fifty First State.”
Zoom in: Ahead of the game, U.S. hockey fans booed Canada’s national anthem — after Canadian fans booed the Star-Spangled Banner before Team USA’s winning game Montreal last week.
- And singer Chantal Kreviazuk confirmed to CBC News she changed the lyrics to “O Canada” on Thursday from “True patriot love, in all of us command” to “that only us command” in response to Trump’s annexation calls.
In photos: Highlights from politically charged U.S.-Canada hockey final
Brad Marchand #63 of Team Canada and Connor Hellebuyck #37 of Team USA collide during overtime in the Feb. 20 game. Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Brady Tkachuk #7 of Team USA and Devon Toews #5 of Team Canada vie for position in front of the Canada net during the third period of the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship on Feb. 20. Photo: Chase Agnello-Dean/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images
Jack Hughes #86 of Team USA andConnor McDavid #97 of Team Canada collide during the second period of the game on Feb. 20. Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Chris Kreider #20 of Team USA argues with Cale Makar #8 of Team Canada during the first period in the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off on Feb. 20. Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Cale Makar #8 of Team Canada gets between Brock Nelson #29 of Team USA and the puck during the first period of the sides’ clash on Feb. 20. Photo: Chase Agnello-Dean/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images
A general view of the atmosphere during the Canadian national anthem prior to the Feb. 20 face-off. Officials asked fans to “respect the national anthem and the players that represent each country,” but Team USA fans still booed. Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with comment from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and more context.
