The San Jose Sharks never really had to consider whether the American national anthem would be booed whenever they traveled north of the border.
But that possibility seemingly exists now as the Sharks get ready to play five straight road games across Canada.
At times this month fans in Canadian arenas, to various degrees, have booed “The Star-Spangled Banner” before NHL and NBA games where the American and Canadian anthems are played. The most recent example took place Saturday when some light boos were heard during the playing of the American anthem in Toronto before the Maple Leafs faced the Carolina Hurricanes.
The booing of the American anthem in Canadian arenas started before the recently completed 4 Nations Face-Off, as some fans in those buildings negatively reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to annex Canada and make it the 51st state.
Trump had also threatened to slap a 25% tariff on imports from Canada unless it did more about border security and drug trafficking. The Canadian government said it would respond with similar tariffs on some imported American goods.
The U.S. and Canada agreed to pause those proposed tariffs until at least early March — when the Sharks are still on the road — but that did little to cool off tensions among a handful of sports fans.
The booing may have reached a fever pitch during the 4 Nations Face-Off round-robin game between Canada and the U.S. on Feb.15 in Montreal.
Despite a plea inside the Bell Centre to “kindly respect the anthems and the players that represent each country,” the booing trend continued, as some in the crowd of over 21,000 people vociferously jeered the American anthem. Fans inside that building also booed “The Star Spangled Banner” before the Americans played Finland on Feb. 13.
“We knew it was going to happen,” American defenseman Zach Werenski told reporters of the boos after the U.S. beat Canada 3-1. “It happened the last game; it’s been happening in the NHL before this, and we knew tonight was going to be the same way. We obviously don’t like it.”
“We’re here to play a hockey game. They can boo all they want during the games. The anthems should be off-limits,” said Canadian player and Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand. “Those should be a moment to show respect for the veterans and the millions and millions of people that sacrificed their lives so we could have freedom and the luxury to play a hockey game.”
Still, the American players on the Sharks’ roster might have to experience the same thing in the coming days.
The Sharks play the first of five straight games in Canada on Sunday night when they face the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome. San Jose then travels to face the Winnipeg Jets on Monday, the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, the Ottawa Senators on March 1, and the Maple Leafs on March 3.
“Honestly, I haven’t really thought about it,” said Sharks winger and St. Louis-area native Luke Kunin, one of three American players on the Sharks’ roster.
“You just hope there’s the respect for both countries. There’s a lot of fans and everything, but you just got to be respectful of everyone and just enjoy the game.”
Other Americans on the Sharks roster and coaching staff include forward Will Smith, defenseman Henry Thrun, head coach Ryan Warsofsky and assistants Thomas Speer and Nick Gialdini.
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There was reportedly some light booing of “O Canada” before Canada played the U.S. in Thursday’s 4 Nations final in Boston. After Canada won the game 3-2 on an overtime goal by Connor McDavid, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on the social media platform X, “You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.”
The Sharks, though, hope politics can be kept away from the sport, especially this week.
“I’ll stay out of it,” Thrun said on Friday of the booing. “It’s not my place to comment on it. It’s just great to see the U.S. and Canada play such a great game, and people have their own opinions on the issues and affairs that go on off the ice. But I try not to pay too much attention to it.”
The Sharks finish the trip with games in Buffalo on March 4 and Colorado on March 6.
