BOSTON – A significant storyline leading up to the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship game between Team USA and Team Canada revolved around the national anthems rather than the match itself. The focus was on the anthems before the opening face-off. During their previous encounter in Canada, the American National Anthem was met with loud boos from the Canadian crowd.
In contrast, when Team Canada faced Team Finland in Boston to secure their place in the final, the Canadian anthem was not met with similar disrespect, as the audience was predominantly Canadian, with Team USA scheduled to play Sweden later that evening. However, the atmosphere changed on Thursday when Team USA took on Team Canada for the championship title, with a strong turnout of American fans at TD Garden.
The question arose: would American fans respond to the Canadian National Anthem with boos? The answer was somewhat mixed. While there were a few boos at the start, it did not reach the level of disrespect shown by the Canadians previously.
When it was time for the U.S. National Anthem, American fans rose to the occasion. The sight of tens of thousands singing the “Star-Spangled Banner” in unison was truly inspiring. The crowd also warmly welcomed Mike Eruzione, the captain of the 1980 United States Olympic hockey team, celebrated for their historic gold medal victory over the Soviet Union.
God Bless America.
