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We haven’t had a hockey night in Canada quite like that since 1972, the last time politics and hockey came together in the ice palace pitting Team Canada against a major international super power, the Soviet Union in 1972, Donald Trump’s America this Saturday night in Montreal.
Much of the online talk today about the game is around the three big fights in the first nine minutes of the game, Matthew Tkachuk fighting Brandon Hagel (a former Red Deer Rebel), Brady Tkachuk fighting Sam Bennett, and J.T. Miller fighting Fort McMurray’s Colton Parayko.
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That fight, after some Montreal fans booed the American national anthem, kicked off a wave of antagonism and patriotism in both countries.
Here are some of the highlights from social media:
Team Canada’s Sam Bennett on the Tkachuks and Team USA
We want them again.
I was glad that fierce Sam Bennett was named to Team Canada and loved his quote last night about the Tkachuks and Team USA.
“We want them again.” pic.twitter.com/j4ciDMDlvo
Oilers fan Boomer @AlW1954
The Thachuks look like the goofs they are, Millar trying to be relevant.
Boston hockey commentator Jimmy Murphy @MurphysLaw74 on the booing of the anthem
To American fans offended by this, I get it, but how would you feel if the roles were reversed and the Canadian PM threatened us? There are definitely more original and better ways to handle it, but I get it.
Florida Panthers digital content manager Jameson Olive @JamesonCoop
The Tkachuk brothers need to be put on US currency 🫡
Canadian actor William Shatner @WilliamShatner
You should look up the nationality of the Captains of those teams that have won the Stanley Cup…
Let me start you off:
Over the last 10 years:
Zero Americans Captains have won the Stanley Cup.
Seven Canadian captains have won.
So much hate.
Never seen anything like this before.
Three fights in first nine seconds, Canada vs USA! pic.twitter.com/FxjQdMjV1Y
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USA congressman Byron Donalds @ByronDonalds
Last night Team Canada learned FAFO:
1–They booed our anthem
2–So we get into 3 fights in the first 9sec
3–We then net 3 unanswered goals
4–We blast Free Bird after each goal
5–And we blow them out in their OWN STADIUM
6–AMERICA IS BACK
Oilers fan Captain Jack 🏴☠️ @OilersJack
Oh boy – I’ve recklessly wandered from “Hockey rivalry banter Twitter” to “angry American Politics is my entire identity” Twitter. This should be a ride.
Oilers fan Den Polland @oilersgm2
To my fellow Canadians… the goal of this tournament was not to win game 2 of the tourney. It’s far from over with the USA!!! Yesterday felt like more than a hockey game and that L hurt. I am proud to be Canadian and hope this brings unity to our Country!!!
Canadian hockey analyst Paul Bissonnette @BizNasty2point0
Hockey is the greatest sport in the world. What a blessing to be a part of last night.
Outkick (US sports publication) writer Dan Zaksheske @RealDanZak
Canadian fans booed the US anthem before the teams hit the ice in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Classless move, and Team USA responded with their fists. God Bless America.
Oilers fan Oilers Ent 🇨🇦 @oilers_ent
I’m still reeling from the loss yesterday but as an Oilers fan I’ve been primed for it already. Forged in the fires of Mt. Doom. Seeing Americans have their way with our lady (hockey) is rough. There’s still a chance at redemption though. 🇨🇦
US hockey writer Stan Fischler @StanFischler
The intensity, boiling antagonism, if you will, explains why fighting remains part of the woof and warp of hockey and none of the Nervous Nellies will change it… The games in Montreal prove something I wrote about 70 or so years ago, hockey was the best game then and is the best game now. On to Boston!
American sports podcaster Josh Reynolds @JoshReynolds24
Matthew Tkachuk. Brady Tkachuk. JT Miller.
3 fights in 9 seconds to get this USA/Canada game started. Unbelievable. Hockey is the greatest sport on the planet
Canadian comedian Andrew Grose @GroseAndrew
Regardless of the outcome of this game, if someone punches Mathew Tkachuk in the face, hockey wins.
Chicago-based sports columnist Mark Lazerus from the Athletic @MarkLazerus
For everyone clutching their pearls over the anthem booing, the American president is literally threatening (or, at the very least, mercilessly mocking) Canadian sovereignty on a daily basis. What the hell do you want them to do?
Boston hockey commentator Jimmy Murphy @MurphysLaw74
On the three fights in the first nine seconds of the game, Brady and Matthew Tkachuk just told the media postgame that they and J.T. Miller had a group chat going all day about sending a message that it’s “Our time and that’s just what we did!”
A perfect representation of how tariffs work… pic.twitter.com/V0XEHUwu3x
US sports writer Jeff Eisenband @JeffEisenband
The Tkachuk Brothers could win a Stanley Cup together and I don’t think it would match this feeling
Oilers fan alicia ^^^ 😆 @leashadawg
top ten reasons to hate team USA:
1. Matthew Tkachuk
2. Brady Tkachuk
3. That’s it. That’s all I need.
Utah state Senator Daniel McCay @danmccay
It’s been a long time since I felt this much patriotism in sports. Thank you NHL and thank you Tkachuk brothers!
St. Louis hockey commentator Andy Strickland @andystrickland
Brady Tkachuk star power and popularity going thru the roof in this tournament. Very few players in the league I’d take over BT.
Oilers fan It’s Linus @pstofcdrpbx
At least half the fans would fight a Tkachuk.
Barstool sports podcast Pardon My Take @barstoolsports
My groupchat with the fellas: where are we getting beers tonight
Tkachuk brothers’ group chat with JT Miller: how soon are we punching the nation of Canada in the face
Sportswriter Nick Cotsonika @cotsonika
Dylan Larkin compared the Tkachuk brothers to the Hanson brothers yesterday: “Listening to those two guys talk, it’s like ‘Slap Shot’ with the things that they come up with. It’s beautiful stuff. You really see why those guys are just heart-and-soul guys for their teams.”
The Tkachuk brothers were mic’d up in the box after their fights 🔊
(via @NHL) pic.twitter.com/VrpFK7wJyX
IllegalCurve host Drew Mindell from Winnipeg @ICdrew
The Tkachuk brothers wrapping themselves in the Stars and Stripes and carrying on as defenders of all things USA, while simultaneously having a mom and other immediate family from Winnipeg/Manitoba, sure is something to behold.
Daily Faceoff columnist Frank Seravalli @frank_seravalli
Don’t care who you root for, one of the best parts of an epic 🇨🇦🇺🇸 clash were the messages flooding in from friends who don’t watch hockey and aren’t hockey fans.
“Holy s&#% this is awesome.” Both sides recognized last night was way more than just a game. They delivered. 💯
Boston hockey podcaster Pete Blackburn @PeteBlackburn
Part of the reason I think the World Cup return is so huge…you can get nasty international games under NHL rules without the IIHF wearing a diaper about it… Still can’t believe how great that 🇺🇸 vs 🇨🇦 game was. Probably the most anticipated game in a decade & somehow exceeded the hype. Felt like a MASSIVE event that almost *everyone* was watching, regardless of hockey fandom. Huge win for USA but a bigger win for the NHL.
New York hockey writer Arthur Staple @StapeAthletic
U.S. last night:
— Bunch of fights to start the game
— Bunch of hits
— Bunch of blocked shots
— Bunch of saves
— Packed the slot on D
Canada, you just got Torts’d. Any NYR fan of the last 15 years recognized that playbook.
There was also some focus after the game about the play of Canadian goalie Jordan Binnington
Montreal hockey commentator Eric Engels @EricEngels
Jordan Binnington has the second-best save percentage of the six goaltenders who have played in the 4 Nations Face-Off: .896
Connor Hellebuyck in Carey Price territory, rocking a .957…
Daily Faceoff writer Steven Ellis @SEllisHockey
Has Jordan Binnington allowed some poor goals? Absolutely.
But you’re not going to win a game at this tourney by scoring once and hoping that’s enough.
Canada’s top stars need to perform better, too:
Calgary hockey writer Darren Haynes @DarrenWHaynes
The issue with Jordan Binnington is it doesn’t necessarily matter how many grade-A stops you make in a game, the soft goal at a bad time is the gut punch that matters. So while it seems asinine to fault a goalie when his team only scores one goal, it’s more complicated than that.
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