If you tuned into the 4 Nations Face-Off expecting a hockey game, you may have been surprised to find yourself watching an all-out brawl with a little hockey mixed in for good measure. The highly anticipated USA-Canada showdown was barely underway when things took a turn, and by “a turn,” I mean three fights in the first nine seconds. If there’s ever been a clearer message that Team USA wasn’t in the mood for nonsense, this was it.
But before the gloves even hit the ice, the real insult came from the Canadian fans in Montreal’s Bell Centre, who did what they’ve been doing far too often lately—booing The Star-Spangled Banner. Because, apparently, disrespecting the American anthem is the new national pastime up north. You have to wonder: is this just bitter resentment, or is Canada finally realizing that the U.S. isn’t the pushover we were under the previous administration? Either way, Team USA had an answer, and it wasn’t diplomatic. It was physical.
BAM!!: This was beautiful. Canada booed out national anthem and then got their asses handed to them on a platter.
Fck Around and Find Out. pic.twitter.com/8ngekcuUKC
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) February 16, 2025
Enter the Tkachuk brothers—Matthew and Brady—who decided that if the Canadians were going to act disrespectfully, they were going to be properly introduced to a couple of good old-fashioned American right hooks. Matthew squared up with Brandon Hagel first, setting the tone for the game. Then, not to be outdone, Brady stepped in and took on Sam Bennett. Just like that, two fights in a matter of seconds, and a message had been sent: the Americans weren’t here to play nice. They were here to win—and if that meant a few bruises along the way, so be it.
BRANDON HAGEL AND MATTHEW TKACHUK DROP GLOVES AT PUCK DROP
ABC pic.twitter.com/Agc8UN3fIo
— ESPN (@espn) February 16, 2025
Now, you’d think that after two Tkachuk-led scuffles, both teams would take a breath and maybe, I don’t know, try playing some actual hockey. Nope. Four seconds later, J.T. Miller decided he wasn’t done sending messages and took on Canada’s Colton Parayko. And let’s give Miller some credit here—he didn’t go after an easy target. Parayko has a serious size advantage, but that didn’t stop Miller from throwing hands anyway. Classic American underdog mentality.
WE’VE GOT A THIRD FIGHT NINE SECONDS INTO THE GAME
JT MILLER AND COLTON PARAYKO pic.twitter.com/EcYyGPl8Ir
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 16, 2025
Once the fists finally stopped flying, the game itself got rolling, but the hits didn’t stop. Team USA didn’t just outplay Canada; they outmuscled them. They put their northern neighbors on notice, especially the so-called best player in the world, Connor McDavid, who spent most of the game getting manhandled along the boards. For all the hype surrounding Canada’s offensive firepower, they had exactly one goal to show for it. Meanwhile, the Americans controlled the pace, delivered hit after punishing hit and skated away with a decisive 3-1 victory.
This was more than just a hockey game—it was a statement. It marked the first time these two teams faced off with their best players since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and the Americans made sure to remind everyone that the old pecking order is a thing of the past. Not only did this win snap a losing streak to Canada, but it also punched Team USA’s ticket to Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship game.
Maybe next time, Canada’s fans will think twice before booing the American anthem. Then again, judging by the way Team USA just handled business on the ice, maybe they’ll keep quiet out of sheer self-preservation.
