VANCOUVER, B.C. — Fans at Rogers Arena on Sunday booed the U.S. anthem, a day after President Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on Canada.
The boos began as soon as anthem singer Agasha Mutesasira began singing the anthem prior to puck drop between the Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks. It continued throughout the song — at times louder than others — and didn’t abate until near the end, when it appeared fans were applauding the singer, not the song.
“It’s too bad,” said Wings forward Patrick Kane, who hails from Buffalo, New York, on the Canadian border. “I guess you can maybe understand it from this side, but it seems like it’s a thing that’s going around the league right now.”
RELATED:Detroit chamber, Fain criticize Trump tariffs; list of affected automakers
Fans in Ottawa also booed the anthem during Saturday’s game between the Senators and Minnesota Wild.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Wings forward Alex DeBrincat, from Farmington Hills, said that, at first, “I didn’t really know what was going on. I think I figured it out towards the end.”
Wings head coach Todd McLellan said he has his own opinions on the current political landscape, but wanted to keep them private.
“I’m going to keep those to myself and separate that from what we’re all here for,” he said, “which was the entertainment value of a hockey game.”
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. 

source