4 Nations: Canada defeats US in game that transcended sports
Justin Trudeau delivered a provocative message to Trump after the hockey tournament final: "You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game."
Canada's Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby during the previous game against the United States.
Canada beat the United States on Thursday in the 4 Nations tournament amid a backdrop of rising tensions between the two countries in the wake of Donald Trump's arrival to the White House.
Tariff policies, immigration, anthems and Trump's insinuations that Canada would be the 51st state were also present in a game that transcended sports.
On this occasion, the latest chapter in the two countries' long-standing hockey rivalry went the Canadians' way.
A goal by Connor McDavid at the 8:18 mark of overtime gave Canada a 3-2 victory over the United States. Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett also scored for Canada, while Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson accounted for the U.S. scores.
Justin Trudeau wanted to take center stage: 'You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game'
The post-game was headlined by an unexpected figure. The still prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, wanted to capitalize on the Canadian victory by delivering a message against Donald Trump in the midst of the diplomatic tensions between the United States and Canada that have soared in the last month since the inauguration of the U.S. president and the continuous appeals to turn Canada into the 51st state of the United States of America.
A few hours earlier, President Donald Trump "invited" the Canadian prime minister to join him in Washington to watch the game together. Referring once again to Trudeau as "governor," the U.S. president made the comment Thursday on Truth Social.
Donald Trump on Truth Social
Trudeau launched his response on X shortly after the game ended:
"You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game."
The 4 Nations, much more than a sports tournament
The 4 Nations tournament, which brought together players from Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland, reached its climax in the final between the U.S. and Canada. It was the second game between the two teams.
On Saturday, the Americans beat the Canadians 3-1 in a controversial face-off that included three fights in the first nine seconds of the match. Many sports analysts believe these fights were the result of a chorus of boos that broke out during the U.S. national anthem at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
The game
The NHL posted a highlight video of the final of the 4 Nations tournament that Canada won in the end against the United States:
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