Fans of the Ottawa Senators continue to voice their displeasure with United States President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state.
Recommended Videos
The jeers began as anthem singer Ania Hejnar started the Star Spangled Banner before the Senators faced the San Jose Sharks at the Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday.
The booing of the anthem across Canada originated in Ottawa before a Feb. 1 game against the Minnesota Wild because at that point Trump was talking about placing tariffs on goods from this country headed to the United States.
Trump has since doubled down on talk that Canada should be annexed by the United States.
Saturday’s fan reaction came with Senators captain Brady Tkachuk back in the lineup for the first time since he suited up for the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
Tkachuk was asking about the booing of the anthem earlier this week and noted it created an awkward situation for himself and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who is from Arizona.
“Auston and I are in a unique situation,” Tkachuk said Tuesday. “Of course, we’re captains in Canada, but, whenever you’re able to wear and represent your country and put on the USA jersey, there is just a different feeling you’re playing for your country.
“You’re playing for, of course, your family, friends and the people that sacrifice so much to give us freedom and things that people that we never know, the sacrifices they make, just so we can do what we do and play hockey. Just to be able to represent those people was a true honour and was special.”