Fistfights, anthem boos in stormy U.S.-Canada ice hockey clash

Too bad we lost the game but AFP missed half the story (intentionally?). We're upset because Trump has threatened the entire country with annexation, and Canadians are fighting back. Annexation is a declaration of war, just ask Ukraine. Trump is copying Putin here. We have a better quality of life and live longer in Canada, Majority do no want to join the derelict USA. In fact it's joining Canadians together in a unified protest never seen before. We're more interested in selling our wares to Japan and EU. Canadians have cancelled trips to USA and are boycotting all USA made products to substantial US losses.

Also no where mentioned was that it was Flag Day in Canada, celebrating the 60th anniversary of our Maple Leaf. The gloves coming off and fighting with the Americans was all of us. Vive le Canada, un pays uni! (Long live Canada, a united country!)

Gotta set the tone boys! Gotta set the tone!

It wasn’t really fair seeing as it was 50 of the United States against only the 51st state.

At the opening puck drop, the gloves came off for real on the ice as Canada's Brandon Hagel and Matthew Tkachuk of the United States began swinging punches as the crowd went wild and teammates skated back to give the brawlers a clear stage at center ice.

Referees restored order, sent the combatants to the penalty box and tried to restart the game, only for Canada's Sam Bennett and Brady Tkachuk of the Americans to drop their gloves and trade punches until officials could break them apart, Tkachuk following his brother into the penalty box.

The last time there was a fight in a NHL International game was in 1996, when the USA's Keith Tkachuk (the father of the Tkachuk brothers) fought Canada's Claude Lemieux

Clearly, hating Canadians runs in the family! lol

Of course the oft-used mantra:

"I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out!"

Yeah, all the 2-ply Americans that are whinging because the fans booed their anthem, calling it disrespectful (Which it is in all honesty, but come on ...sports fans. What'd you expect?). But your Clown-in-Chief calling Canada the 51st state repeatedly isn't disrespectful?? Get some perspective, seriously.

As for all you Americans saying it's America's sport now... I guess baseball is Japan's sport then eh?

Canada doing its best to pretend it isn't a lapdog of the USA in front of the world.

Disgusting, SHAME on each and every player that was involved in these fights, should be barred for a very long time.

In each of the fight that occurred today, there was already bad blood between the two combatants. To make anything more out of it means you don’t know anything about hockey.

I've been to a number of hockey games in my life. I've been thrown out of hockey games a few times for "inappropriate behavior" ... er ... along with hundreds of others. Always for really bad calls by the refs.

I've heard mothers of Canadian players yell some of the foulest things from the stands that would make any Navy man blush.

So, besides the booing - it seems like this was a typical hockey game to me.

Canadians clearly have no interest in becoming part of the USA (can't blame them), so there's nothing that Trump can do to make that happen. ZERO. Same for Greenland.

Just look at Puerto Rico. They've held 7 referendums locally to become the 51st state. The last time was last November. Over 58% of Puerto Ricans said they wanted to be a US State. The other choices were "Free Associated" and "Independent".

Article IV, Section 3, Clause 1:

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

So, "Congress" just needs to vote. Nothing about President involvement, though historically, the process has been:

The people living in the proposed area need to show significant support for statehood,

Congress usually passes a law making the proposed area a state, and

the current President signs that law.

So, Puerto Rico is willing to be a US State, yet Congress hasn't taken any steps and Trump hasn't been yelling about it. Too many Democrats there and it would change the makeup of Congress in a way that the GOP wouldn't have a majority anymore.

Oh Canada, can I move to your land? Here in the States, we've elected a madman....

playing the national anthem(s) at sporting events isn’t needed.

professional sports teams are two corporations playing against each other. it’s like mcdonald’s playing burger king.

getting people teary eyed about colored cloth and songs is just a social manipulation no different than what kim jong ill does, or german marching music.

get rid of the constant nationalism and you’ll be back to good, old regular hockey fights.

So many Canadians act like little children with hurt feelings. It was childish to boo the American anthem. The very same Canadian people who are suddenly patriotic spent the last 9 years crapping on their own country and flag. They have called Canada and it has been repeated in Canada's left media "so called Canada." They have spent years delegitimizing their own country. Now that Trump has called them out on their BS, a panic of the Canadian left has set in.

The current Trudeau government has done more economic damage, albeit over 10 years, that Trump led America has.

The Canadian supply management system dairy and poultry and the maple sugar cartel has inflicted punishing tariffs and restrictions on American business for decades. Canadians are too immature to realize that they would actually gain by allowing free trade on dairy and poultry.

Cell phone companies, airlines, banks, etc, etc run duopolies in Canada, protected by onerous regulations designed to eliminate competition. Canadians pay and pay for second hand service and are just not smart enough to eliminate the problems. Whenever a serious threat arrases to the closed market, people are told they are "under attack" and told to wave the flag.

It is ridiculous.

From an American's point of view.

No matter how much you dislike another country for whatever reasons, you don't boo the opponent's national anthem. Period. I am no fan of canada nor canadians but I would never think of booing their anthem. I would/do, however, stand in silence. Apparently that seems too hard for too many canadians. Apparently, the real national character of canandians was on display again. ( this isn't the first time this happened ). Perhaps it is high time to ditch the all too-tired moniker of 'polite' and kind canadians.

Justifying this abhorrent behavior is simply playing the victim of nothing and excusing bad and poor actions all the while trying to act as though you are the good guy - so it's ok to act boorish.

I am beyond tired of canadians playing victim to the US especially when canada so heavily relies on the US for its mere existance.

To be sure, in no way shape or form do I want canada to be America's 51st state. If you haven't figured it out by now, I will explain it. It is simply a negotiation tactic by President Trump. There is no way in hell that he wants to incorporate canada into the US. He is just making a point that in the sense canada's economy is so closely tied to the US that it is virtually a US state. And on top of that, canada gets US aid. Oh, wow That is ridiculous.

Fact is, the US has been getting screwed on trade deals over the decades by not just canada, but also by our other so-called allies.

We are just looking for a good trade deal. That is all. Stop making a big deal out of bilateral trade negotiations.

proxyToday  02:24 am JST

So many Canadians act like little children with hurt feelings. It was childish to boo the American anthem. The very same Canadian people who are suddenly patriotic spent the last 9 years crapping on their own country and flag. They have called Canada and it has been repeated in Canada's left media "so called Canada." They have spent years delegitimizing their own country. Now that Trump has called them out on their BS, a panic of the Canadian left has set in.

The current Trudeau government has done more economic damage, albeit over 10 years, that Trump led America has.

The Canadian supply management system dairy and poultry and the maple sugar cartel has inflicted punishing tariffs and restrictions on American business for decades. Canadians are too immature to realize that they would actually gain by allowing free trade on dairy and poultry.

Cell phone companies, airlines, banks, etc, etc run duopolies in Canada, protected by onerous regulations designed to eliminate competition. Canadians pay and pay for second hand service and are just not smart enough to eliminate the problems. Whenever a serious threat arrases to the closed market, people are told they are "under attack" and told to wave the flag.

It is ridiculous.

0( +3 / -3 )

This is very well thought out and written. It is so true.

Oh Canada, can I move to your land? 

Go ahead.

So many Canadians act like little children with hurt feelings. It was childish to boo the American anthem. The very same Canadian people who are suddenly patriotic spent the last 9 years crapping on their own country and flag. They have called Canada and it has been repeated in Canada's left media "so called Canada." They have spent years delegitimizing their own country. Now that Trump has called them out on their BS, a panic of the Canadian left has set in.

Exactly****.

NCIS RerunsToday  12:28 am JST

Oh Canada, can I move to your land? Here in the States, we've elected a madman....

-1( +1 / -2 )

America is a free country. No one, not even the goverment can force you to stay or keep your American citizenship. So, I strongly urge you to carry out your wishes.

High probability they meet again in Boston. Should be a great game.

CosellToday  12:08 pm JST

High probability they meet again in Boston. Should be a great game.

0( +0 / -0 )

If that happens, I hope that the fans in Boston don't behave as poorly as the bafoons north of the border.

Oh Canada, can I move to your land? 

Well, Thousands of Canadians move to the States, don’t see the harm in a few Americans wanting to move to Canada, if they wish.

After 8 years of Trudeau the Canadians have become more violent and drug addicted. I don’t blame them for booing as it’s always easier to find and blame an external enemy than look in the mirror.