Canadian NBA and NHL Fans Boo US National Anthem Amid Lingering Trade Tensions

Associated Press
February 5, 2025 | 11:30 am
SHARE
From left to right, Toronto Raptors forwards Bruce Brown, Scottie Barnes and Chris Boucher react as fans boo the United States national anthem before NBA basketball game action against the Los Angeles Clippers in Toronto, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
From left to right, Toronto Raptors forwards Bruce Brown, Scottie Barnes and Chris Boucher react as fans boo the United States national anthem before NBA basketball game action against the Los Angeles Clippers in Toronto, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto. Canadian fans expressed lingering frustration on Tuesday by booing the US national anthem at NHL and NBA games, even after President Donald Trump announced a 30-day pause on tariffs targeting Mexico and Canada.

At Vancouver's Rogers Arena, boos resonated as singer Elizabeth Irving began "The Star-Spangled Banner" ahead of the NHL game between the Canucks and the Colorado Avalanche. The mood shifted as fans cheered when Irving transitioned to "O Canada," with applause intensifying during the performance.

Similar reactions occurred at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, where a few fans jeered the U.S. anthem before the Raptors faced the New York Knicks. The boos were less pronounced than during Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers. On Sunday, Raptors fans erupted in enthusiastic cheers for "O Canada," particularly during the line "True North strong and free!"

In Winnipeg, the reaction was subdued during the anthem at the Jets’ game against the Carolina Hurricanes but grew louder near the end.

Advertisement

The booing follows a weekend of similar reactions at NHL games in Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver after Trump initially threatened tariffs on Canadian imports.

Despite the reduced tension from the tariff pause, the anthem protests highlight ongoing discontent among Canadian sports fans.

Tags: Keywords:
SHARE

The Latest


News 2 hours ago

‘Why Visit Australia to Learn about Poverty Alleviation?’ Prabowo on Budget Cuts

He said the current austerity efforts are aimed at eliminating non-essential expenditures that offer minimal benefit to the people.
Business 3 hours ago

Certain Government Expenditures, Such as Maintenance, Cannot Be Slashed

"There's no way we can slash the budget for disaster mitigation efforts," an official said.
Business 5 hours ago

$3.1 Billion Worth of Free Meals Might Go to Rich Kids: Think-Tank

Celios says that Prabowo should not splurge Rp 306.7 trillion of the money potentially collected from the budget cuts on the free meal plan.
News 6 hours ago

Saudi Authorities Free Doctoral Student Initially Sentenced to 34 Years for Tweets, Activists Say

Al-Shehab was detained during a family vacation on Jan. 15, 2021, just days before she planned to return to the United Kingdom.
Opinion 8 hours ago

How to Respond to Government Spending Cuts

President Prabowo wants his government to take some cost-cutting measures, but such step can worsen corruption and affect other sectors.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 JAKARTA GLOBE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED