Canada, U.S. ready for 4 Nations final with political tensions high off the ice
'We're a pretty hockey-proud country,' says Canada captain Sidney Crosby
Jon Cooper is a hockey coach. He's also aware of the world outside the rink.
Relations between Canada and the United States are as frosty as they've been in a long time.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said repeatedly America's northern neighbour and close ally should become its "51st state." There have been tariff threats. Canada said it would respond in kind if the hammer fell.
Political rhetoric has been ratcheted up on both sides of the border. Tensions are high.
It's against that backdrop Canada and the U.S. will play Thursday's final of the 4 Nations Face-Off at 8 p.m. ET in Boston, the biggest men's international hockey game between the rivals since the 2010 Olympic final.
Both teams are downplaying what's happening away from the rink. It's also impossible to ignore.
"When you're in the position we're in to make a country proud, to make a country be able to stick its chest out a little bit farther, it's rewarding, and we understand that," Cooper, Canada's head coach, said Wednesday. "But before that puck drops, I don't think anybody will be thinking anything outside of this hockey game, other than winning.
"These guys, they're just all in it for each other, and knowing that there's an outcome we want. But there's a process we have to go through to get that outcome."
WATCH | What to expect from Thursday's 4 Nations final:
That outcome is something Canadian captain Sidney Crosby and his teammates are desperate to achieve.
"We're a pretty hockey-proud country," said the Pittsburgh Penguins captain, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, including in 2010 when he scored the overtime clincher against the U.S. "People have a lot of pride and hopefully we're a team that's represented that well to this point.
"Hopefully we can go out there and find a way to win it for them."
The U.S. beat Canada 3-1 on Saturday in Montreal in the preliminary round following a chaotic start that included three fights in the first nine seconds.
WATCH l Fight night in Montreal between Canada and U.S.:
Matchup more than the game for some
That was preceded by loud boos from many fans at the Bell Centre for the American national anthem — continuing a trend of jeers for "The Star-Spangled Banner" at NHL and NBA arenas across the country in recent weeks in apparent response to Trump — before a stirring rendition of "O Canada" from the crowd.
Canadian defenceman Cale Makar, who missed that one with an illness before returning for Monday's 5-3 victory over Finland, acknowledged the final is about more than the game for some.
"For sure," said the Colorado Avalanche blue liner. "It's definitely not something that in this room we're worried about. We try just to keep it to hockey."
U.S. forward Dylan Larkin said any bad blood is more about NHL players taking part in a high-level international competition for the first time since the 2016 World Cup. The league missed the last two Olympics, but is poised to return to sports' brightest spotlight in 12 months.
WATCH l Canada beats Finland, secures berth in 4 Nations Face-Off final:
"We've all grown up playing against Canadians, playing against Canada at minor hockey tournaments, going over the border," he said. "That rivalry starts from a young age. As an American, you learn to not like playing against Canadians.
"I'm sure every guy in Canada will say the same about Americans."
U.S. general manager Bill Guerin, meanwhile, stated earlier this week he would welcome a visit from Trump at Thursday's game. Speaking on Fox News, the former NHLer credited the president for the heightened intensity in the teams' first meeting.
Trump called the U.S. hockey team on Thursday to wish players good luck.
USA Hockey posted a photo on social media showing Guerin standing in the middle of the dressing room holding up a phone.
Team USA received a call from the President this morning to wish them luck ahead of tonight’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/4Nations?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#4Nations</a> championship game. <a href="https://t.co/he1kIgUVGW">pic.twitter.com/he1kIgUVGW</a>
—@usahockeyPlayers after their morning skate called it an honour to hear from Trump.
"It was so awesome to get his support," U.S. centre J.T. Miller said. "It's a pretty big deal for him to take time out of his schedule to talk to us for five minutes. It's just another one of those things where we're kind of pinching ourselves this tournament."
Trump will be watching
U.S. defenceman Noah Hanifin said, "Hopefully we can get the win tonight for our country and for Trump."
Trump posted on Truth Social he would be watching, saying he hoped the U.S. would beat Canada.
Referring to wanting Canada to become the 51st U.S. state, Trump said: "If Governor Trudeau would like to join us, he would be most welcome. Good luck to everybody, and have a GREAT game tonight. So exciting!"
Canadian superstar Connor McDavid steered clear of political questions ahead of the final at TD Garden.
"I'm excited to play in a big game on the biggest stage with a group that has come together really, really quickly," said the Edmonton Oilers captain.
U.S. and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews had a similar response.
"We're just focused on playing," he said. "All this stuff going on outside of it, I don't really have too much."
Cooper said Canadian players and coaches know what Thursday represents. That chatter also hasn't entered the country's locker room.
The task at hand is too great to worry about anything else — at least for now.
"If we pull this off," Cooper said, "we'll know what this will have meant for everybody at home.
"We're very cognizant that."
