How American and Canadian hockey academy students feel about escalating border rivalry
From anthem booing, to political tensions, to predictions for the 4 Nations Face-Off final
Parker Lee says he's not entirely sure why Canadian hockey fans in Montreal booed the American national anthem during Saturday's 4 Nations Face-Off, but he thinks it must have had something to do with politics.
The 14-year-old hockey player from South Lyon, Mich., goes to BioSteel Sports Academy in Windsor, Ont., just across the border from his home town.
"Probably something politically related. I know the [proposed] tariffs just got implemented … I'm guessing it was something to do with that," he said.
"I thought it was disrespectful. I don't think that should happen. I get there's a rivalry over the years between the two teams … I just don't think there's a place in the game for that kind of stuff."
Lee watched the game with teammates — most of whom are Canadian — from his home country's soil while at a tournament in Minnesota.
"I know that there are quite a few people and families on the team with clashing belief systems, but in the end, we all get along and we don't let that separate us or ruin friendships or anything like that."
Lee, who's a goalie, says his favourite player is Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, who scored the winning goal Saturday.
He says watching Saturday's game was really fun, and loud, and he's surprised there wasn't a noise complaint from nearby hotel rooms.
"I was sitting in the middle … surrounded actually on all sides by the Canadians, and every single one of them made sure to give me a tap on the shoulder and they were in my ear."
"My coach was also pretty vocal to me throughout the game, every time something would happen to the States — it was still really fun."
For tonight's rematch and 4 Nations Face-Off final, he plans to watch back in Michigan with family, a few friends and teammates.
And Lee expects American fans in Boston to give Canada much of the same treatment.
He thinks booing a national anthem can give the country on the receiving end added motivation.
"That's going to give me an extra edge … fire me up quite a bit … just put that extra little drive to do everything to make every save. Even though I can't really fight [as a goalie] … get a chip in, a little shot at someone in front of the net maybe after the whistle. Put them on their heels and give us a bit of an advantage."
Lee is expecting a low-scoring U.S. win.
Shayne Keefe is another American who attends the Canadian hockey academy.
The 14-year–old forward hails from Park Ridge, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, and chose to play and learn on the Canadian side of the border in hopes of getting into the Ontario Hockey League.
He says Saturday's booing was the fans trying to get into the Americans' heads as a "scare tactic," and that he's glad it backfired.
"I was a little nervous," he said.
"Don't want to lose because all of these Canadian guys would chirp me a lot. Before the game, they had a lot of confidence. Tensions were a little high in a fun way."
Keefe also watched the U.S. win while in Minnesota.
He said if he was playing in the Montreal game, he would have taken the anthem booing personally and felt "disrespected."
As for tonight's final game, he wouldn't be surprised if O Canada gets booed. He'll be watching from his Canadian billet's living room.
"I think I have a USA sweatshirt that I might be wearing, and I might be throwing some chirps to my billets if we do score, but hopefully we don't lose."
Canadian classmates
Ethan Willoughby is one of a dozen Windsor-area Canadians on the same team as Lee and Keefe at the academy.
The 14-year-old, from Tecumseh, Ont., splits his time between forward and defence.
He says while there's been some tension among the group during the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, it's all in good fun.
But not when it comes to booing a national anthem.
"I think it had something to do with Trump," said Willoughby.
"I felt like it was unnecessary and they didn't have to do that. You have to respect everyone's anthems."
He thinks Canada's goaltending needs to be a "bit better" tonight to defeat the U.S., and is hoping for more scoring, predicting a 6-3 Canadian victory.
Preston Medeiros lives on the outskirts of Windsor, in nearby LaSalle, Ont., and also goes to BioSteel Sports Academy.
The 14-year-old forward is related to Team Canada defenceman Drew Doughty.
"He's coming back from a big injury that could've been career ending," he said, adding he and his family have been paying close attention to him during the tournament and cheering him on.
Medeiros thinks U.S. President Donald Trump is the reason for the recent anthem booing.
He hopes to see a bunch of offence in tonight's final, which he'll be watching with his family.
"It's definitely big. It's going to be a huge game."
With files from Michael Evans and Zena Salem