U.S.-Canada hockey match descended into chaos with 3 fights in first 9 seconds, booing of American anthem

A hockey match between rivals the USA and Canada descended into chaos from the second the puck was dropped as three fights broke out within the first 9 seconds.

“We wanted to ship a message,” stated American Matthew Tkachuk, who discovered Canada’s Brandon Hagel off the opening faceoff. “The message we needed to ship is ‘It is our time.'”

The 4 Nations Face-off sport unfolded in opposition to the backdrop of uneasy tensions between the North American neighbors and longtime allies, with many followers within the sellout crowd of 21,105 at Bell Centre loudly booing all through the pregame rendition of the U.S. anthem. All of it spilled onto the ice with Tkahuck asking Hagel to drop the gloves and the fourth-line Canada winger participating within the struggle two seconds in.

Tkachuk’s youthful brother Brady did the identical factor and tussled with Canada’s Sam Bennet the following time the puck was dropped, three seconds in. J.T. Miller dropped gloves with Colton Parayko after a cross-check, and the 2 went at it to make the trio of bouts within the early going.

The People adopted the fisticuffs with a 3-1 victory over their largest rivals.

“That was among the best experiences of my life — simply an unbelievable hockey sport,” stated Dylan Larkin, who scored the go-ahead objective within the second interval. “The Tkachuk brothers and Millsy, what a begin, and credit score to these guys for answering the bell. And the gang, only a nice night time for our sport and an amazing night time for this rivalry.”

Taking part in at a blistering tempo and with physicality all through, the U.S. confirmed it might sustain with Canada’s velocity, talent, and expertise within the NHL’s first worldwide match with its greatest gamers in practically a decade.

“What an unimaginable hockey sport,” U.S. coach Mike Sullivan stated.

Apparently, the thought of the early-game fisticuffs got here from a gaggle chat involving the Tkachuk brothers and Miller. Matthew Tkachuk stated it had nothing to do with the anthem booing. If something, gamers felt it added to the enjoyable of the night time.

“It is simply unbelievable, the environment, to play on this stage in Canada, that was fairly cool for all of us I believe,” stated winger Jake Guentzel, who scored twice, together with the empty-netter that sealed it. “There’s lots of pleasure from our staff popping out for warmups and simply seeing how packed it was. That was fairly particular.”

Canada coach Jon Cooper known as the primary minute purely “mayhem.”

“It was, I suppose, 10 years of no worldwide hockey exhaled in a minute and a half,” Cooper stated.

With the 3-1 win, the U.S. confirmed their spot within the 4 Nations Face-Off remaining. They may play Sweden within the remaining pool stage sport on Monday, whereas Canada will face off in opposition to Finland.