BOSTON — President Trump will not be in attendance at TD Garden for Team USA’s match against Canada, but he called the Americans on Thursday morning to wish them luck ahead of the 4 Nations championship game.
Though players have repeatedly stressed that they don’t want the tournament to become a political arena, the Americans were honored to hear from the president, politics aside.
“Pretty incredible,” Brock Nelson said. “Anytime you have that opportunity to meet or speak or hear from the president, it’s a big deal. For him to take time out of his day to wish us luck, talking about just enjoying the moment, a little bit about hockey players is pretty special. Something I’m gonna remember forever.”
Defenseman Zach Werenski said the conversation strayed from hockey, with Trump telling stories about golf, along with other topics.
“Honestly half the call wasn’t even about hockey,” he said. “He was just talking so I kind of blacked out a little bit listening to him talk, but it was definitely cool.”
The political atmosphere around the tournament has become a sideshow with Trump threatening to turn Canada into the 51st state and calling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, “Governor Trudeau.” The “Star-Spangled Banner” was met with boos in Montreal during the first week of action.
In his Truth Social post about the phone call, Trump mentioned annexing Canada.
“I’ll be calling out 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,” Trump wrote. “I will be speaking before the Governors tonight in D.C., and will sadly, therefore, be unable to attend. But we will all be watching, and if Governor Trudeau would like to join us, he would be most welcome. Good luck to everybody and have a GREAT game tonight. So exciting!”
Team USA GM Bill Guerin told The Athletic that Trump briefly brought up making Canada the 51st state while talking to the team.
Beyond Team Canada coach Jon Cooper joking that they could come up with “one hell of a hockey team” if the two countries combined, the Canadians did not have much to say about it, though everyone involved is impressed at the interest this tournament as generated.
“It’s crazy to see how big this has gotten,” Vincent Trocheck said. “Obviously we’re having a great time with it. These games mean a lot to us, so to see how much these games mean to everybody on the outside, it’s a good feeling to know that everybody’s kinda joining in.”
