Ever since the President of the United States made a statement on 51st State the relations between Canadians and Americans have not remained ideal. And guess what? It would have been a surprise if the repercussions hadn’t hit ice hockey. As the world knows, Team USA and Canada have squared up in the championship game of 4-nations face-off, but one incident in the game has caught the attention of all the US citizens. Wanna know what happened? Let’s dive in! 

The USA-Canada rematch was about to kick off and a Canadian fan’s unique and hilarious signboard almost started off a fight with US fans. The signboard was clearly written, “Eh USA, 11th province? Think aboot it!” Now, this did not go down with American fans. The Canadian fan was showing the signboard as a reply to Donald Trump’s serious comments on Canada when he called the neighboring nation, a future 51st State of the USA.

Donald Trump came up to Truth Social on February 20 to drop nukes in the political and sports world as well when he was wishing the Team USA for the finale of the 4-nations face-off. The 47th President of the United States said, “I’ll be calling our GREAT American Hockey Team this morning to spur them on towards victory tonight against Canada, which with FAR LOWER TAXES AND MUCH STRONGER SECURITY, will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished, and very important, Fifty-First State.” After stating this, he also admitted that he would not be present to watch the game in the stadium but would watch it live. “I will be speaking before the Governors tonight in D.C., and will sadly, therefore, be unable to attend,” Trump said. And you know how Justin Trudeau reacted to it?

Trudeau while replying to Canada’s CBC, said, “Mr. Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country and it is a real thing. In my conversations with him. They’re very aware of our resources and what we have, and they very much want to be able to benefit from those.” But wait, if we set the politics and political figures aside, what do you think, about how the NHL players have reacted to Donald Trump’s 51st State remark?

Trump’s “51st State” remark got mixed reactions amid 4-nations face-off final

The Team USA players were delighted to receive the President’s response to them in the first place irrespective of the 51st State comment. Canadian hockey champion P.K. Subban‘s comment started another row when he showed excitement after Trump’s remarks. “The Trizzy Train [train and smoke emojis] could be coming through soon. Stay tuned!” Subban posted. And former NHL player Akim Aliu, widely known as an advocate for diversity in hockey, just bashed the 2014 Olympic gold champion. 

Replying to Subban’s reaction to Trump’s controversial comment, the Ukrainian-Canadian wrote, “Even during this most sensitive time both politically and socially you take the side of the oppressor because that’s who you make your money from. I would have thought the “love” you have always claimed for your country, a country you represented at the highest levels, would shine through to push back on the rhetoric of annexation and humiliation of the very land you are born and raised in, but even that doesn’t get you to do the right morally.” Things got heated. Apart from this, there was a cheerful environment on the Team USA side and a composed mindset too. 

When Team USA GM Bill Guerin was asked by Michael Russo if the President spoke about making Canada the 51st state, Guerin replied, “A little bit, but I would just try to focus on the message that he was giving us.” Earlier Guerin had said that he and the team would “love” it if the President could be in attendance for the final game, a comment that had elicited some serious criticism from ESPN journalist Rachel Doerrie. “I’ve said it before: We’re here to play hockey. This is not a political forum. This is a hockey tournament. And he’s just trying to be supportive in the best way that he could, and we appreciate it,” he added. OKAY. Sports at its own place, but Donald Trump’s 51st State remark is going to become a giant snowball even after the 4-nations face-off.