MONTREAL (AP) 鈥� Fans in Montreal loudly booed the U.S. national anthem prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off game between the Americans and Canada on Saturday night.
滨迟鈥檚 鈥淭he Star-Spangled Banner鈥� drew that reaction in two games the United States has played at the NHL-run international tournament.
And it came after public address announcer Michel Lacroix asked the crowd, in French and English, "In the spirit of this great game that unites everyone that you kindly respect the anthems and the players that represent each country."
This time, far more of the fans at Bell Centre booed than Thursday night before the U.S. beat Finland. The booing began when warrant officer David Grenon of the Royal Canadian Air Force Band started singing and lasted the entire length of the song.
鈥淲e knew it was going to happen,鈥� U.S. defenseman Zach Werenski said after and quieting the crowd of over 21,000. 鈥淚t happened the last game, it鈥檚 been happening in the NHL before this and we knew tonight was going to be the same way. We obviously don鈥檛 like it."
U.S. players have been trying to tune it out. After on Thursday, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck said he 鈥減aid no attention to鈥� the booing.
鈥淵ou have free speech,鈥� Hellebuyck said. "You can do whatever you want. If you鈥檙e going to boo the anthem, we sing it for the troops that protected our freedom. That doesn鈥檛 really mean anything to me. You can do whatever you want. But I don鈥檛 use it at all.鈥�
Werenski said it provided some fuel with the U.S. serving in the villain role in Canada.
鈥淚t is what it is,鈥� Werenski said. "We kind of had an idea. We used it as motivation the best we could and found a way to get a win. But we had an idea going into it, so it wasn鈥檛 a surprise. Definitely don鈥檛 like it, though.鈥�
U.S. forward Matthew Tkachuk, who fought Canada's Brandon Hagel off the opening faceoff, setting off a series of three bouts in nine seconds, said it had nothing to do with the anthem booing. If anything, players felt it added to the fun of the night.
鈥湵醭兮�檚 just unbelievable, the atmosphere, to play on this stage in Canada, that was pretty cool for all of us I think,鈥� said winger Jake Guentzel, who scored twice, including the empty-netter that sealed it. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of excitement from our team coming out for warmups and just seeing how packed it was. That was pretty special.鈥�
Fans across Canada have since President Donald Trump began making repeated references to the country Trump also against the country, prompting backlash from a close neighbor and longtime ally.
Asked Friday at practice about fans booing the U.S. anthem, veteran Canada defenseman Drew Doughty voiced opposition to it.
鈥淥bviously, I know what鈥檚 going on, and I understand the Canadians鈥� frustration, but I think we should respect the anthems and stuff like that,鈥� Doughty said. "I don鈥檛 think anyone should be booing.鈥�
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AP NHL:
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
