Canada, American women’s hockey teams did not focus on booing in front of the rivalry series

Halifax – The Canadian and American national women’s hockey teams are not concerned about the current political climate that overshadows Game 4 in the rivalry series.

Players and coaches from both sides of the border are ready to hear BOOS in Halifax’s ScotiaBank Center Thursday night (Live at 6pm one on TSN 1/4), whether politically motivated or not, but they are focused on the intense rivalry Between some of Hockey’s best players.

“It’s definitely an interesting time,” said Canada Tip Blayre Turnbull after Wednesday’s practice at the 10,500-capacity track.

“I don’t know if it would happen here in Halifax, but I think the size of this game is bigger than politics right now.”

Fans at several professional sporting events in Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver have booed American National Anthem over the past week, apparently in response to a brewery -trading war between Canada and the United States. Spectators in Nashville returned to the benefits Monday as the predators hosted the Ottawa senators.

Lecture between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Donald Trump on Monday led to a break in raised tariffs on imports to the two countries.

Turnbull, 31, is from Stellarton, NS, and knows what to expect from a maritime audience. She believes that fan -voltage will overman any dissent during the song of national hymns.

“Fans and all the little kids in the stands will be so over-to-moon enthusiastic and overly having the opportunity to see us playing that I don’t foresee any booing taking place,” Turnbull said.

“I think it will be more of a noted atmosphere where everyone is there to cheer us on and just promote our game, and hopefully that’s all that happens.”

Canada head coach Troy Ryan had “some short conversations with some individual people” about the North American political gap, prepared by executive orders from Trump over the weekend that threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian imports.

Ryan said the subject, however, has not been discussed as a team.

“It’s certainly not part of the noise in our group,” said Ryan of Spryfield, NS “If they decide they want to talk about it, we’ll talk about it, but it’s not something we think we have to come in front of ”

“I think hockey just isn’t a place for a lot of political views,” he added. “We understand people’s concerns, but we are here just to put on a show – and play against our greatest rival.”

Canada is currently leading this season’s five-game rivalry series 2-1 after the United States hosted the first three meetings last November.

American head coach John Wroblewski says his young team is ready to arrange a comeback on Thursday in front of what will be a violent Canadian crowd.

“You don’t have to say much more about the passion that Canadians have for their sport,” he said. “The political turmoil that is happening in the arenas right now – I don’t have much to comment on with it.

“What I would like to say is that the celebration of this amazing event should be shown. This is one of the coolest sporting events.”

Turnbull, Ryan and Canadian assistant coach Kori Chestie of New Glasgow, NS, hope their return is a special experience after Covid-19 Pandemic closed the World Cup in World Women’s Hockey in their home province.

The popularity of the six -team professional woman’s hockey league, who has brought new fans to the game and is already looking at expansion, also adds enthusiasm to the female game in both countries.

“Last night at Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame, we had a lot of young athletes, young women, young girls playing hockey,” said Ryan, who is also the head coach of PWHL’s Toronto Specters.

“PWHL has just postponed it at a completely different level. The international game and the Canada-U-Rivalization series have probably been a major foundation for what PWHL has been able to build on; It’s just an exciting time for women’s hockey and women’s sports in general. ”

Fans of all ages decorated in PWHL products filled Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame on Tuesday to meet Montreal Victoire Captain Marie Philip-Poulin and Toronto Sceptres Captain Turnbull, among others.

“After the worlds were canceled a couple of years ago, I didn’t expect the opportunity to come back and play at home, so I’m really excited about it,” Turnbull said on Thursday’s Matchup. “It’s a game I’ve been looking forward to since it was announced.

“I can’t wait for the puck to fall.”

Play 5 in the annual rivalry series is set for Saturday at Credit Union Place in Summerside, PEI

Notes: Canada Assistant Coach Caroline Ouellette, Senior Manager for Player Development and Scout Cherie Piper and General Manager Gina Kingsbury won all gold in the 2004 worlds at the same arena, then called the Metro Center. Canada beat the US 2-0 in front of a sold-out audience…. Canada came back to demand last year’s rivalry series with four straight wins to beat US 4-3 in the seven-game event.

This report from the Canadian press was first published on February 5, 2025.