Predators fans join Canadian trend and boo ‘O Canada’

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American hockey fans in Nashville put their country on the board in the anthem booing contest that’s been an unexpected fallout of recent U.S.-Canada trade tensions.

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Though it wasn’t as long or as loud as some of the jeers audible amidst the din of applause and cheers during the singing of the U.S. national anthem at four previous sporting events in Canada — three NHL matches and one NBA game on Saturday and Sunday — a healthy congregation of boos could be heard as ‘O Canada’ began Monday night at Bridgestone Arena in the Tennessee capital.

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They lasted only a few seconds before the crowd fell silent for the remainder of elementary school teacher Cathy Mullins’ performance and there were more cheers than not at the end. Country star Luke Bryan went on to perform ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ and was cheered lustily by the country-crazy Nashville crowd.

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After the 5-2 loss, Predators coach Andrew Brunette, from Sudbury, Ont., said he doesn’t like any anthem being booed, per Outkick

“The NHL has been around 100 years and the U.S. and Canada both share this game. I don’t really think there’s a place to be booing the anthem.”

In a locker room scrum, Quebec-born Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault said anthems are not the time to express that displeasure, noting that they’re played in both countries as a way to show respect for veterans of the armed forces.

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But the unceremonious razzing still leaves the U.S. behind 4-1 on the tally of questionable sportsmanship.

As it happens, Senators fans notched the first mark with some booing at the end of the U.S. anthem prior to a game against the Minnesota Wild at the Canadian Tire Centre in the hours after U.S. President Donald Trump signed his directive for sweeping tariffs on Canadian imports. Those tariffs, and Canada’s response, have since been delayed for at least 30 days.

In a response to the Tennesseean, the Senators said its “fans in Ottawa-Gatineau are passionate about their hockey team and their country.”

Later that night in Calgary, where the Flames were hosting the Detroit Red Wings, fans expressed their American discontent towards the end of their anthem.

The trend continued Sunday afternoon at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto where the Raptors took on the L.A. Clippers and spilled into the evening ahead of the Vancouver Canucks-Detroit Red Wings game.

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American-born Red Wings forward Patrick Kane was there for two rounds of boos.

“I guess you can maybe understand it from this side but it seems like it’s a thing that’s going around the league right now,” he remarked.

Wings coach Todd McLellan, a native of Saskatchewan, told the Detroit Free Press he has his own political convictions.

“I’m going to keep those to myself and separate that from what we’re all here for, which was the entertainment value of a hockey game.”

In most instances, the Canadian booing was followed by raucous cheers and applause as ‘O Canada’ began and fans joined to sing along emphatically.

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While Monday night’s contest was the only one on the NHL schedule, six of Canada’s seven teams are on the ice Tuesday — four on the road in U.S. cities. The Raptors, meanwhile, are home again and taking on the New York Knicks.

The games are as follows:

— With files from the Associated Press 

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