President Donald Trump will not attend the highly anticipated hockey championship between Team USA and Team Canada, but he has expressed his support for the American team ahead of the match. In a post on social media, Trump stated he would call the players to encourage them before the game, which is set to take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Thursday night.
Team USA’s general manager, Bill Guerin, extended an invitation to Trump to join the team in Boston, emphasizing the pride and dedication of the players and staff representing the country. The championship game is a rematch of a previous round-robin contest where Team USA triumphed over Canada with a score of 3-1.
In his social media message, Trump mentioned that a prior engagement in Washington, D.C., would prevent him from attending the game in person. He also suggested that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would be welcome to join him in spirit as they cheer for their respective teams. Trump added a light-hearted comment about Canada potentially becoming the "Fifty First State" due to its favorable tax policies and security.
The rivalry between the U.S. and Canada in hockey is well-documented, and Saturday’s game showcased this intensity, beginning with several fights as Canadian fans booed the U.S. national anthem. Team USA, after falling behind 1-0, rallied to score three consecutive goals, demonstrating their physical style of play.
As Team USA prepares for the championship, they are dealing with injuries to key players, including defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who is hospitalized due to a shoulder infection. However, star forwards Auston Matthews and the Tkachuk brothers are expected to return to the lineup after missing previous games.
Guerin noted that the political climate surrounding U.S.-Canada relations has fueled the players’ motivation, suggesting that the current atmosphere has added an extra layer of intensity to this storied rivalry. As the teams face off once again, all eyes will be on the ice to see if Team USA can continue their winning streak against their northern neighbors.