Canada and now fight on the skating rink in a championship game that promises to be more than just ice hockey.
Any ordinary day, the final match of 4 nations faced would be significant for two neighboring countries that have long been friendly ice rivals.
However, the warming of rivalry this time was a threat to the economically harmful trade war, as well as the persistent thoughts of Donald Trump to contribute to Canada and made it 51.
Trump himself was invited to attend a match in Boston, CEO of Team USA Bill Guerin. The US president failed to make, but made the point of calling the team to wish them luck.
He also reiterated his desire to absorb Canada, writing in the social place of truth in front of the game, which he hoped that the Earth would “one day, may soon become our well -groomed and very important, fifty -first state.”
Canadian public security minister David McGuinty told reporters that Trump’s Quip had taken as a sign that he was “worried about the outcome of the” game “.
For fans throughout North America, the finals were “Dream match,” said Daniel Nugent-Bowman hockey writer for the BBC. Not since the 2014 Winter Olympics had top ice hockey players from Canada, and now they have been faced in such a consequent game.
Both countries praise some of the biggest stars in the national hockey league (NHL), such as Canadian Mitch Marner and Connora McDavid, and Americans Auston Matthew and Jack Eichel. The game was the opportunity to prove this new generation of players.
But in Canada, the game was also a personal, which, with stubborn and occasional fans, gave the opportunity to find themselves in national pride at a time when the sovereignty in the country seems to be threatened with a closest neighbor.
The first match between Canada and the USA of this tournament, played on February 15 in Montreal, saw that the American anthem that the Canadian fans cheered, despite the announcement of the announcer previously asked for fans – in English and French – to show respect for the opponent team.
The vocal protests of American anthem have become a common scene at sports games in Canada over the past month, as Trump has threatened 25% of tariffs on all Canadian goods.
When there was a singing of Canadian anthem, fans – including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – appeared at the top of the lungs.
Three fist fights then broke out on the ice in the first nine seconds of the game between American and Canadian players. It was a stunning scene, even by ice hockey standards where the struggles are common.
Matthew Tkachuk, a Team USA player who was among those who participated in Brawls, told reporters after that his team should have delivered a message that “this is our time right now.”
Perhaps the loudest message sent that day was the crucial victory of the Team USA against Canada.
Few Canadians would challenge how integral hockey is on ice with a national identity of the country.
Sport served as a backdrop of some of the state -of -the -art moments in the history of Canada, such as the naked gold medal Sidney Crosby at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Historically, Canada had an advantage against the US. Two countries met with 20 times in the best tournaments at the best best in Canada in 1976, and Canada won 14 game games.
