Latest news with #USNationalAnthem
Irish Daily Star
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Star
NHL fans torn on unusual rendition of national anthem before playoff game
The Los Angeles Kings ' Game 1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs was preceded by an unconventional rendition of the U.S. national anthem that sparked a whirlwind of reactions. The Korea-Town Senior & Community Center's harmonica class took center ice at Arena, delivering a wordless version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" entirely on harmonicas. As the seniors played, the 20,000-strong crowd filled in the lyrics, culminating in a rousing ovation. While the in-arena audience appeared to embrace the unique performance, social media platforms buzzed with mixed reviews. Some fans expressed admiration for the heartfelt display, while others were less enthused. Read More Related Articles Rory McIlroy and wife Erica Stoll pictured returning to Florida after PGA Tour decision Read More Related Articles Donald Trump comes up with ludicrous way to look taller next to Ohio State football team One user on X (formerly Twitter) remarked, "That was ------- GOD AWFUL TO WATCH!!!" Another commented, "Whoever thought this was a good idea should probably not have a job." Critics questioned the choice of harmonicas for such a significant playoff moment, with one stating, "Worst US National Anthem I have ever heard... Harmonica's... Really." Despite the polarized opinions, the Kings seemed energized by the performance, jumping to a four-goal lead before ultimately securing a 6-5 victory with a last-minute goal from Phillip Danault. The harmonica rendition, while unconventional, became a memorable prelude to an exhilarating playoff opener. The Kings established their dominance early in the game. First-period goals from Andrei Kuzmenko and Quinton Byfield gave Los Angeles a 2-0 lead. They extended their advantage in the second period with goals from Adrian Kempe and Danault, making it 4-0. However, the Oilers began their comeback with Leon Draisaitl scoring just before the end of the second period. In the third period, Mattias Janmark and Corey Perry added goals for Edmonton, narrowing the gap. Kevin Fiala's power-play goal briefly restored a two-goal cushion for the Kings, but Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid scored late in the period to tie the game at 5-5. With just 41.1 seconds remaining, Danault netted his second goal of the night, securing the win for Los Angeles. The victory gives the Kings a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday night in Los Angeles. This marks the fourth consecutive season that the Kings and Oilers have met in the first round of the playoffs, adding another chapter to their growing rivalry. The Korea-Town Senior & Community Center had previously performed the anthem during the regular season, and their return for the playoffs added a unique cultural touch to the event. While some fans and commentators questioned the choice, others appreciated the diversity and community involvement showcased by the Kings.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
NHL fans livid as national anthem is played on harmonicas in LA before playoff game
There was a performance of the national anthem like no other in Los Angeles on Monday night as the NHL playoffs began with the Kings beating the Edmonton Oilers. Moments before the puck dropped in downtown LA, the Star-Spangled Banner was bizarrely performed on harmonicas by members of the Korea-Town Senior & Community Center. There was nobody singing the words, meaning the sold-out crowd of 20,000 spectators joined in and belted out the lyrics before giving the rendition a huge ovation. But while the hockey fans inside the arena clearly approved, it was a performance that was met with derision on social media. 'That was f***ing GOD AWFUL TO WATACH!!!' one fan wrote on X in response to the footage. 'Whoever thought this was a good idea should probably not have a job,' said another hockey fan. There was a special USA anthem performance in LA tonight by...a harmonica class? �� — B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 22, 2025 Plenty of hockey fans voiced their disapproval on socila media after seeing the performance A different response read: 'Worst US National Anthem I have ever heard...... Harmonica's (sic).......... Really.' Another fan said it was surprising to hear the anthem sang that loudly in California, posting in response to the performance: 'Entertainment Capital of the World; you never know what you're gonna get! 'What really threw me for a loop was Los Angeles of all cities singing the national album that loudly. I thought they hated their country.' The performance seemed to fire the Kings up, however, as they raced into a four-goal lead by the second quarter before the Oilers launched a stunning fightback. But the hosts rallied and eventually won 6-5 with a dramatic last-minute winner from Phillip Danault. 'We could have made it less dramatic, but credit to them,' Kings coach Jim Hiller said after the whirlwind ending. 'We had to do it late.' It was the first game of the series, so the Kings hold a 1-0 lead before Game 2 on Wednesday night back at the same venue on the road to the Stanley Cup. Performances of the national anthem have formed a major talking point across the course of the current hockey season. American and Canadian fans have repeatedly booed each other's anthems amid the ongoing trade war that President Trump has spearheaded. Trump's desire to make Canada the so-called '51st state' has appeared to inflame tensions further, as well. One man who was bore the brunt of the political tensions more than anyone is Wayne Gretzky, the Canadian great who is close friends with Trump. On Monday, Daily Mail reported that a fifth of Canadians think Gretzky should leave Canada for good and stay in the United States due to his ties with the President
CNN
09-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Team Canada coach Jon Cooper still can't get over the ‘perfect storm' of the 4 Nations Face-off
Jon Cooper is still marveling that one of the biggest achievements of his career became a surreal international drama: A long-awaited chance to indulge in the friendly Canada-United States hockey rivalry in the 4 Nations Face-Off was quickly overtaken by geopolitical events that supercharged the already heightened emotions. 'A sport that is supposed to unite everybody united and almost divided at the same time,' the Canadian told CNN. In February, Canada ran into the United States team in the NHL's inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. It was the first time in a decade that the two countries had met with their strongest lineups available, 'best on best' as they say in hockey, and most of the players had never experienced anything like it before. Days before the tournament got underway, President Donald Trump began referring to Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a 'governor' of the '51st state.' Crippling 25% tariffs on cross-border imports were promised and – although hastily postponed – two longtime allies and trading partners found themselves contemplating a profoundly different future, virtually overnight. The US National Anthem, which had always been played and applauded at NHL and NBA games on the northern side of the border, was booed in the days leading up to the game. When the puck dropped, the tension was clear. 'So, this is brand new to everyone, a decade in the making,' Cooper added. 'The players are amped up, and then you have a new incoming president and a political landscape that is changing. I hate to use the term 'perfect storm,' but it all came together at the right time.' By the time Canada skated against the United States in the group game in Montreal, the atmosphere was akin to a powder keg. Within nine seconds of the puck being dropped at the start of the game, no less than three fights had broken out on the ice. 'From our perspective, we've been the friendly neighbors of the North,' Cooper said about the amped-up atmosphere. 'We've had a great partnership and now all of a sudden there's some dilemmas in there.' The United States edged Canada in that game at the Bell Centre, but they were destined to meet again in the final five days later in Boston. Cooper says he tried not to use politics to motivate his players, but there was no way that any of them could ignore what was happening outside of the locker room. 'Growing up in Canada, hockey is a lifeblood,' he said. 'It was hard enough to go best on best, trying to win this tournament, without saying, 'Oh by the way there's over 40 million people on the edge of their seats and a lot of it might be politically charged as well as athletically charged.'' 'I did not want to put that added pressure on the players. We tried our hardest not to make it a distraction, but deep down you knew they were feeling it.' Rumors that Trump himself would be in attendance for the tournament's final between the same two sides proved unfounded, but he injected himself into the buildup on the morning of the contest with another provocative message on his Truth Social website, saying that he'd call the US team 'to spur them 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'. As if they didn't have enough motivation already, the Canadian players responded with a gutsy performance, scoring the opening goal and a decisive overtime tally from their superstar Connor McDavid, which secured the trophy and perhaps something much more important: A moment of intense national pride. 'It was pretty remarkable to be part of,' reflected Cooper. 'You watch sport to get away from life, and for a brief time it was all brought together. It was surreal.' He said that if he could have imagined how the tournament might have played out, he could never have conceived of a finale like that. 'The way it started, the way it progressed, the political side of things, the national pride side of things and winning for our country. I think the game of hockey won overall; it was just amazing to be a part of,' he said. Cooper has now returned to coaching his Tampa Bay Lightning team in the NHL, hoping he can lead them to a third Stanley Cup title in just six years. The Canadian coach will lead his American team over the border, where they may well hear the anthem being booed again. But he echoes the sentiments of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said that the fans aren't booing the players or the team, but instead some controversial and damaging policies. 'I explained this to the players; people pay for their ticket, and nobody can stop them showing their feelings. It's a statement of political pride in a venue where they have a voice. They're not booing the game; this has nothing to do with that,' Cooper said. In just over a year's time, the United States, Canada and Mexico are due to collaborate and welcome 45 other countries as they co-host the biggest-ever FIFA World Cup. It's impossible to predict how the tournament might be compromised if relations become even more strained in the meantime. But Canada's American soccer coach Jesse Marsch has already spoken out directly against Trump, describing his 51st state rhetoric as 'unsettling and frankly insulting.' Marsch later told CNN, 'I think I made it very clear how I felt about this idea of the 51st state. It doesn't belong in the discourse and Canada deserves so much more.' On March 4, one month after Trump had threatened but then postponed a 25% levy on imported Canadian goods, he followed through and enforced the tariffs. Canada quickly responded with countermeasures on goods crossing the border in the opposite direction. Trudeau accused Trump of 'trying to ruin the Canadian economy,' calling the tariffs 'dumb.' 'Canadians are reasonable and we are polite,' he said, 'But we will not back down from a fight, not when our country and the well-being of everyone in it is at stake,' The showdown is set to drag on. Trump on Thursday delayed some of the tariffs on Canada for another month on about 36% of the imports that come into the US over the northern border. It's an intense period of strife between two traditional geopolitical friends. Cooper is hopeful that cooler heads will soon prevail. 'I think, will this stop? I think, will everything come together eventually, and the fences be mended? I do,' he said. 'I truly believe that.'
CNN
08-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Who will replace Justin Trudeau as Canada's Liberal Party leader? Here's what you need to know
The race is underway to replace Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Frontrunners to lead Trudeau's ruling Liberal Party, including the internationally recognizable Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney, are making the case they can guide Canada through numerous domestic and international issues, including mounting trade tensions with the United States. Following a series of political crises last year, Trudeau announced in January he would resign as Liberal leader once his replacement is chosen – and eventually hand over the Prime Minister's office as well. This Sunday, Liberals finally tally the votes and announce their new leader, all as Canada's general elections loom later this year. Here is what you need to know: Trudeau has led the party for over a decade. He took the Liberals to power in 2015, promising 'sunny ways' for Canada and was elected two more times since then, most recently in 2021, when he remained in power but lost his governing majority. He championed progressive issues like combating climate change and addressing historic abuses against Indigenous peoples, but the latter years of his premiership have been marked by rising economic discontent. His administration was also rocked last year by the surprise resignation of Freeland, who was then deputy prime minister and finance minister, just hours before she was due to deliver her annual fiscal update. Trudeau is stepping down ahead of a major challenge to the Liberal party's rule, with general elections expected by October. Liberals have been polling poorly against their Conservative rivals, helmed by right-wing firebrand Pierre Poilievre. But in recent weeks, the opposition lead has narrowed as Trudeau's potential successors, like Carney, take strong, public stances on the ongoing trade dispute with the United States. Though Trudeau will step down as Liberal leader following Sunday's vote, he has not given an exact date to relinquish power as prime minister. The next Liberal prime minister will be able request new federal elections within days, weeks, or months. Relations with the US have soured under the Trump administration. The past three months have seen US President Donald Trump blame Canada for illegal immigration into the US, threaten to turn Canada into the US's 51st state, and impose steep tariffs on Canadian imports, which the White House says is necessary to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States. Rhetoric traded between Trump and Trudeau has galvanized feelings of nationalism among some Canadians; at NHL and NBA games in Canada, fans have even been booing the US National Anthem. The cross-border tensions may also have put some wind in the sails of the Liberal party, as Conservative leader Poilievre – who has previously been compared to Trump – seeks to distance himself from the US leader, reiterating at a Tuesday press conference that he is 'not MAGA.' 'Canadian politics is being convulsed by the Trump government's assertions about Canada's future as he saw it, and secondly by the tariffs that were very puzzling to a lot of people given the depth of interdependence between the Canadian and American economies,' Allan Tupper, a political science professor at the University of British Columbia, told CNN. Whoever takes the mantle from Trudeau will have to be a tough negotiator, 'particularly on tariffs,' Tupper added. 'It just may be a different kind of Canada to deal with, it's going to be more assertive, more nationalistic and more in charge of its destiny.' Mark Carney: Among the race's frontrunners is Carney, a former governor of both the Bank of England and Bank of Canada. Drawing on his finance background, Carney has made clean energy, climate policies and economic prosperity for Canada some of the central facets of his campaign. When launching his campaign, Carney highlighted his role in helping the Canadian government address its debt during the 2008 financial crisis and his role in navigating Britain's economy through Brexit. He has also called for bringing economic prosperity to Canada with the help of its natural resources and making Canada a leader in clean energy. Experts say Carney has received backing from Liberal lawmakers and even Trudeau's cabinet, and his economics experience could make him the man for the moment. 'He's very competent in economics, so with these tariffs, this economic war, a lot of people are supporting him,' said Charles-Etienne Beaudy, political science professor at the University of Ottawa and author of 'Radio Trump: How he won the first time.' Carney, like the other candidates, has not shied away from questions on how to tackle the Trump administration, telling CNN in February that despite being 'insulted on multiple occasions by senior members of the administration. We are not going to reciprocate in those insults.' Since the US tariffs were announced last month, Carney has been an outspoken proponent of dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs that would hit the US hard but have minimal impact on Canada. Chrystia Freeland: The former journalist, who is the other frontrunner in Sunday's vote, became one of Trudeau's most well-known cabinet members before she resigned. Born to a Ukrainian mother in the western province of Alberta, Freeland studied at Harvard University before going on to work as a journalist covering Russia and Ukraine for several years. She entered politics in 2013, rising through the ranks of the Liberal Party and gaining several cabinet posts under Trudeau's administration. Notably, she's dealt with Trump on trade before. As foreign minister in 2018, she helped Canada renegotiate the free trade deal between Canada, the US and Mexico, which Trump has indicated he wants to renegotiate yet again. She also engaged in high-profile clashes with the US during the first Trump administration over its decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada. She has since become a personal target for Trump, who has criticized her as 'totally toxic and not at all conducive to making deals.' A once-staunch Trudeau ally, Freeland's resignation in December marked the beginning of the collapse of Trudeau's government. Fareed speaks with Chrystia Freeland, Canada's former finance minister and a top candidate to be its next prime minister, about her country's response to US President Donald Trump's tough tariffs on Canadian goods. On the campaign trail, Freeland has hinted at taking a harder line on immigration and has advocated for a tough approach to the US with targeted retaliatory tariffs. Karina Gould: Gould is the youngest woman to serve as a minister in the country. She branded herself as 'part of a generational shift' in Canada as she launched her campaign in January, underscoring that the Liberal Party 'needs to embrace this shift too.' Gould has also proposed an increase in corporate taxes on large companies earning more than $500 million a year, to encourage them to reinvest into business and productivity, or face an increased corporate tax. Gould has made clear that her priority, if elected, is addressing Canada's trade spat with the US before calling for general elections. Like the other candidates, Gould has advocated a tough line on Trump. Frank Baylis: The businessman from Montreal has served as a lawmaker from 2015 to 2019. In February, he unveiled a proposal to create two pipelines that would transport natural gas to international markets in Europe and Asia to reduce dependence on the United States. The businessman has cautioned against Canada's economy being 'so reliant on one country' and stressed the need to diversify trading partners. Baylis has criticized Trudeau for his dealings with US President Donald Trump and said the prime minister and premiers made 'mistakes' with the US president, including traveling to Mar-a-Lago in November to meet Trump. Baylis told The Canadian Press last month: 'Anybody that's ever dealt with a bully successfully, knows that you don't give an inch.' CNN's Paula Newton, Max Saltman, and Christian Edwards contributed to this report
CNN
08-03-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Who will replace Justin Trudeau as Canada's Liberal Party leader? Here's what you need to know
The race is underway to replace Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Frontrunners to lead Trudeau's ruling Liberal Party, including the internationally recognizable Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney, are making the case they can guide Canada through numerous domestic and international issues, including mounting trade tensions with the United States. Following a series of political crises last year, Trudeau announced in January he would resign as Liberal leader once his replacement is chosen – and eventually hand over the Prime Minister's office as well. This Sunday, Liberals finally tally the votes and announce their new leader, all as Canada's general elections loom later this year. Here is what you need to know: Trudeau has led the party for over a decade. He took the Liberals to power in 2015, promising 'sunny ways' for Canada and was elected two more times since then, most recently in 2021, when he remained in power but lost his governing majority. He championed progressive issues like combating climate change and addressing historic abuses against Indigenous peoples, but the latter years of his premiership have been marked by rising economic discontent. His administration was also rocked last year by the surprise resignation of Freeland, who was then deputy prime minister and finance minister, just hours before she was due to deliver her annual fiscal update. Trudeau is stepping down ahead of a major challenge to the Liberal party's rule, with general elections expected by October. Liberals have been polling poorly against their Conservative rivals, helmed by right-wing firebrand Pierre Poilievre. But in recent weeks, the opposition lead has narrowed as Trudeau's potential successors, like Carney, take strong, public stances on the ongoing trade dispute with the United States. Though Trudeau will step down as Liberal leader following Sunday's vote, he has not given an exact date to relinquish power as prime minister. The next Liberal prime minister will be able request new federal elections within days, weeks, or months. Relations with the US have soured under the Trump administration. The past three months have seen US President Donald Trump blame Canada for illegal immigration into the US, threaten to turn Canada into the US's 51st state, and impose steep tariffs on Canadian imports, which the White House says is necessary to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States. Rhetoric traded between Trump and Trudeau has galvanized feelings of nationalism among some Canadians; at NHL and NBA games in Canada, fans have even been booing the US National Anthem. The cross-border tensions may also have put some wind in the sails of the Liberal party, as Conservative leader Poilievre – who has previously been compared to Trump – seeks to distance himself from the US leader, reiterating at a Tuesday press conference that he is 'not MAGA.' 'Canadian politics is being convulsed by the Trump government's assertions about Canada's future as he saw it, and secondly by the tariffs that were very puzzling to a lot of people given the depth of interdependence between the Canadian and American economies,' Allan Tupper, a political science professor at the University of British Columbia, told CNN. Whoever takes the mantle from Trudeau will have to be a tough negotiator, 'particularly on tariffs,' Tupper added. 'It just may be a different kind of Canada to deal with, it's going to be more assertive, more nationalistic and more in charge of its destiny.' Mark Carney: Among the race's frontrunners is Carney, a former governor of both the Bank of England and Bank of Canada. Drawing on his finance background, Carney has made clean energy, climate policies and economic prosperity for Canada some of the central facets of his campaign. When launching his campaign, Carney highlighted his role in helping the Canadian government address its debt during the 2008 financial crisis and his role in navigating Britain's economy through Brexit. He has also called for bringing economic prosperity to Canada with the help of its natural resources and making Canada a leader in clean energy. Experts say Carney has received backing from Liberal lawmakers and even Trudeau's cabinet, and his economics experience could make him the man for the moment. 'He's very competent in economics, so with these tariffs, this economic war, a lot of people are supporting him,' said Charles-Etienne Beaudy, political science professor at the University of Ottawa and author of 'Radio Trump: How he won the first time.' Carney, like the other candidates, has not shied away from questions on how to tackle the Trump administration, telling CNN in February that despite being 'insulted on multiple occasions by senior members of the administration. We are not going to reciprocate in those insults.' Since the US tariffs were announced last month, Carney has been an outspoken proponent of dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs that would hit the US hard but have minimal impact on Canada. Chrystia Freeland: The former journalist, who is the other frontrunner in Sunday's vote, became one of Trudeau's most well-known cabinet members before she resigned. Born to a Ukrainian mother in the western province of Alberta, Freeland studied at Harvard University before going on to work as a journalist covering Russia and Ukraine for several years. She entered politics in 2013, rising through the ranks of the Liberal Party and gaining several cabinet posts under Trudeau's administration. Notably, she's dealt with Trump on trade before. As foreign minister in 2018, she helped Canada renegotiate the free trade deal between Canada, the US and Mexico, which Trump has indicated he wants to renegotiate yet again. She also engaged in high-profile clashes with the US during the first Trump administration over its decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada. She has since become a personal target for Trump, who has criticized her as 'totally toxic and not at all conducive to making deals.' A once-staunch Trudeau ally, Freeland's resignation in December marked the beginning of the collapse of Trudeau's government. Fareed speaks with Chrystia Freeland, Canada's former finance minister and a top candidate to be its next prime minister, about her country's response to US President Donald Trump's tough tariffs on Canadian goods. On the campaign trail, Freeland has hinted at taking a harder line on immigration and has advocated for a tough approach to the US with targeted retaliatory tariffs. Karina Gould: Gould is the youngest woman to serve as a minister in the country. She branded herself as 'part of a generational shift' in Canada as she launched her campaign in January, underscoring that the Liberal Party 'needs to embrace this shift too.' Gould has also proposed an increase in corporate taxes on large companies earning more than $500 million a year, to encourage them to reinvest into business and productivity, or face an increased corporate tax. Gould has made clear that her priority, if elected, is addressing Canada's trade spat with the US before calling for general elections. Like the other candidates, Gould has advocated a tough line on Trump. Frank Baylis: The businessman from Montreal has served as a lawmaker from 2015 to 2019. In February, he unveiled a proposal to create two pipelines that would transport natural gas to international markets in Europe and Asia to reduce dependence on the United States. The businessman has cautioned against Canada's economy being 'so reliant on one country' and stressed the need to diversify trading partners. Baylis has criticized Trudeau for his dealings with US President Donald Trump and said the prime minister and premiers made 'mistakes' with the US president, including traveling to Mar-a-Lago in November to meet Trump. Baylis told The Canadian Press last month: 'Anybody that's ever dealt with a bully successfully, knows that you don't give an inch.' CNN's Paula Newton, Max Saltman, and Christian Edwards contributed to this report
