logo
Opinion: Feel free to hate me, but I'm rooting for Team Canada in 4 Nations

Opinion: Feel free to hate me, but I'm rooting for Team Canada in 4 Nations

USA Today20-02-2025

Erik Brady
Special for USA TODAY
O Canada, my (summer) home and (not) native land.
Tonight, I root for thee.
Yes, that makes me an American rooting against Americans, which is un-American. But, hey, I have my reasons.
We're talking about the so-called 4 Nations Face-Off, the round-robin hockey tournament that is down to two nations. Tonight's championship game is Team USA versus Team Canada. It will be played at Boston's TD Garden, an arena named for a Toronto-based bank — and owned by a Buffalo-based company.
(As it happens, Delaware North's global headquarters offers expansive views of Buffalo's gateway to Canada, Fort Erie.)
It's fine if you think my rooting interest makes me unpatriotic. Go ahead, call me a snowflake. (Canada gets a lot of those in winter.)
Look, I rooted hard for Team USA to beat Team Canada in the finals of the 2010 Winter Olympics, in Vancouver. Ryan Miller, then goaltender of the Buffalo Sabres, was voted the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Alas, Team Canada won in overtime on Sidney Crosby's golden goal.
And I rooted for the Czech Republic to beat Canada in the semifinals of the 1998 Winter Olympics, in Nagano, Japan. Dominik Hasek, then the Sabres goalie, stoned a murderers' row in a classic shootout: Theo Fleury, Ray Bourque, Joe Nieuwendyk, Eric Lindros, Brendan Shanahan. (All red-blooded Canadians know a national lament: How on earth did Wayne Gretzky not get to take a shot?)
But all of that was then. This is now.
And I'm all in for Canada.
As you've no doubt heard, the American president says he wants to make Canada the 51st state. The very notion is deeply disrespectful. Canadians sometimes can't quite define their national identity, but this much they know for sure: They are not us.
"Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant," Pierre Trudeau famously told the National Press Club in Washington in 1969, when he was prime minister. "No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt."
Another view:Vance's speech shows VP's star is on the rise. I'm proud of America again. | Opinion
These days, the beast is not so friendly. The American president says he has plans to place steep tariffs on Canada, our biggest trading partner. If it happens, the Peace Bridge connecting Buffalo and Fort Erie might as well be the Trade War Bridge.
Our countries have not been actual enemies since the War of 1812, when the Americans burned Newark, now known as Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. And then the Brits burned Buffalo. (The White House came next.) We've been at peace with Canada ever since. (Well, except for a skirmish in 1866 when Irish-American Civil War vets known as Fenians rowed across from Buffalo and shot up Ridgeway, Ontario.)
I've spent happy parts of every summer of my life, except the COVID one, in a cousin-shared cottage on the Canadian shore of Lake Erie. When we're there, we are only a stone's throw from Buffalo — and yet also a world away.
This is a rare gift that only border towns can know. In Canada's honor, allow me to express the feeling bilingually:
Vive la différence!
And now here comes Team USA, whose general manager told Fox News the other day that the American players are using the American president's regrettable remarks as "inspiration."
"I think there was a political flair to it," Bill Guerin told Fox of last week's fight-filled first game with Canada. "It's just the time that we're in."
It's a terrible time. Last week, Canadian fans in Montreal booed during the American anthem. Please understand, they were not booing the American players, and they were not booing America. They were booing the sword of Damocles that hangs unfairly over their heads.
I hope that the American crowd in Boston will not boo the Canadian anthem tonight. Team USA and Team Canada are bitter rivals on the ice. That's hockey. But our countries are not enemies. We are best friends. And we pray it stays that way.
That's why tonight I will root for the True North, strong and free.
Go, Canada.
You hosers.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Oikos PRO Leaves No Athlete Behind in Canada with a Surprise 2025 Stanley Cup® Playoffs Gym Experience
Oikos PRO Leaves No Athlete Behind in Canada with a Surprise 2025 Stanley Cup® Playoffs Gym Experience

Yahoo

time16 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Oikos PRO Leaves No Athlete Behind in Canada with a Surprise 2025 Stanley Cup® Playoffs Gym Experience

Oikos uncovers that elite athletes in Canada are not willing to miss a gym day, even during the playoffs. TORONTO and BOUCHERVILLE, QC, June 9, 2025 /CNW/ - The excitement in Canada for the Stanley Cup Final is palpable with the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight season. Between office small talk, radio recaps and highlight reels on social media, Canadians cannot escape the hype, but not every fan stays glued to the game. Some ultra-dedicated athletes refuse to miss a workout, heading to the gym even when their favourite team is on the ice. This is what Oikos, the official high-protein yogurt of the NHL and beloved Canadian-made Greek yogurt brand, has learned through insights about what matters most to elite performers. As it turns out, high-protein diets dominate their social feeds and morning routines. Danone Canada collaborated with creative agency BonClub to envision an activation for Oikos PRO that tapped into a real cultural tension: when the playoffs are on, sticking to your training routine gets harder. Oikos PRO was made for moments like these, a high-protein yogurt designed to support serious performance with up to 24 grams of protein per serving. "As a brand built on purpose, known for its creamy, rich and satisfying yogurt, Oikos PRO is here to fuel consistency and celebrate commitment. Instead of making athletes choose between gym time and game time, we brought both worlds together with a high-energy, playoff-worthy gym time and game takeover that celebrated their discipline,'' said Aurélie Goffinet, Senior Brand Manager at Danone Canada. The made-for-social moment transformed a Canadian fitness centre into every hockey lover's dream. While others watched the game from their couches, gym-goers lifted weights while enjoying arena lighting, a DJ, cheering fans, and the ultimate playoff atmosphere. Through an authentic approach, the campaign guaranteed a high-energy moment designed to spark user-generated content while speaking to the benefits of Oikos PRO via concession stands and product sampling. The immersive experience built emotional credibility with Canadians who take their training seriously. An authentic surprise made athletes in the room stop and recognize Oikos as a brand that "gets it.": "I've definitely skipped out on social plans to prioritize training. Consistency is one of the biggest factors in long-term performance — and for me, that means showing up, even when there's something exciting going on. It's easy to fall off track when you start making exceptions, and I'm not willing to risk that," says Phil Wizard, Olympic medalist and World Champion breakdancer. About Oikos® CanadaOikos is part of Danone Canada, a leading health-driven food and beverage company, and offers a diverse range of Greek yogurt, providing consumers with creamy, delicious, and nutritious products tailored to their needs. From Oikos Original, which offers a creamy texture and delightful taste, to Oikos Pro, an innovative protein-packed range with no added sugar, Oikos offers something for all lifestyles including lactose-free, less sugar and high protein options. All Oikos yogurts are proudly prepared in Canada with 100% Canadian milk and part of a B Corp company. Connect with Oikos online at and on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. About Danone CanadaDanone Canada is part of Danone, a leading global food and beverage company, with head offices in Toronto (ON) and Boucherville (QC). With a long-standing mission of bringing health through food to as many people as possible, Danone aims to inspire healthier and more sustainable eating and drinking practices while committing to achieve measurable nutritional, social, societal and environment impact. As the country's largest consumer-facing certified B Corp, Danone Canada's portfolio includes iconic pioneering brands in dairy yogurt, plant-based products, coffee creamers and beverages including: Activia, Oikos, Silk, Danone, Two Good, International Delight, evian and more. For more information about Danone Canada and its brands, visit or LinkedIn. SOURCE Danone Canada View original content to download multimedia:

2025 Libema Open: Virtanen [101st] vs. Etcheverry [62nd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview
2025 Libema Open: Virtanen [101st] vs. Etcheverry [62nd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview

USA Today

time20 minutes ago

  • USA Today

2025 Libema Open: Virtanen [101st] vs. Etcheverry [62nd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview

2025 Libema Open: Virtanen [101st] vs. Etcheverry [62nd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview No. 101-ranked Otto Virtanen will meet No. 62 Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the Libema Open on Tuesday, June 10. Virtanen is favored (-185) in this match versus Etcheverry (+140). Tennis odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Monday at 10:35 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Otto Virtanen vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry matchup info Tournament: Libema Open Libema Open Round: Date: Tuesday, June 10 Tuesday, June 10 Court Surface: Grass Watch the Tennis Channel and more sports on Fubo! Virtanen vs. Etcheverry Prediction Based on the implied probility from the moneyline, Virtanen has a 64.9% to win. Virtanen vs. Etcheverry Betting Odds Virtanen vs. Etcheverry matchup performance & stats

2025 Boss Open: Dzumhur [67th] vs. Herbert [132nd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview
2025 Boss Open: Dzumhur [67th] vs. Herbert [132nd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview

USA Today

time20 minutes ago

  • USA Today

2025 Boss Open: Dzumhur [67th] vs. Herbert [132nd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview

2025 Boss Open: Dzumhur [67th] vs. Herbert [132nd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview In the Boss Open Round of 32 on Tuesday, No. 67-ranked Damir Dzumhur meets No. 132 Pierre-Hugues Herbert. Herbert is the favorite (-190) in this match versus Dzumhur (+145). Tennis odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Monday at 10:35 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Damir Dzumhur vs. Pierre-Hugues Herbert matchup info Tournament: Boss Open Boss Open Round: Round of 32 Round of 32 Date: Tuesday, June 10 Tuesday, June 10 Court Surface: Grass Watch the Tennis Channel and more sports on Fubo! Dzumhur vs. Herbert Prediction Based on the implied probility from the moneyline, Dzumhur has a 65.5% to win. Dzumhur vs. Herbert Betting Odds Dzumhur vs. Herbert matchup performance & stats

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store