Tag: Canadas

4 Nations Face-Off: Canada’s Brandon Hagel fought USA star for pride of country

When the puck dropped in Montreal’s Bell Centre on Saturday night, Team Canada’s Brandon Hagel dropped his gloves along with Team USA’s Matthew Tkachuk.

It was the first of three fights that took place between the hockey rivals in nine seconds for their 4 Nations Face-Off matchup.

Because of the aggression and fists flying, not to mention the aggressive checking from both benches throughout the 3-1 win for the United States, many are wondering if we’re going to expect more of the same on Thursday night in Boston for the tournament’s championship game.

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Team Canada forward Brandon Hagel controls the puck during the third period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. (Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images)

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Hagel said that his decision to fight Tkachuk the moment the game started wasn’t to put on a show for those in the seats and watching at home.

There was pride for country.

“Listen, what happened the other night, I did it for the flag and not for the cameras,” Hagel said.

US, CANADIAN HOCKEY STARS GET INTO NUMEROUS FIGHTS IN OPENING SECONDS OF 4 NATIONS RIVALRY AFTER ANTHEM BOOS

Before that fight occurred, there was a lot of tension from Canadian fans booing the U.S. national anthem. Both teams have a strong sense of pride for the country they wear on their sweaters, so it’s understandable why Tkachuk, his brother, Brady, and J.T. Miller all fought someone in the first nine seconds of the game.

For Hagel’s bout, he was seen egging on the crowd after getting back on his skates, trying to use home ice to Canada’s advantage.

Team Canada forward Brandon Hagel (38) plays the puck and Team United States defenseman Charlie McAvoy defends in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

With roles reversed this time, as Team USA will be playing in Boston’s TD Garden against Team Canada, Hagel expects the same sense of pride from both squads.

“I think it’s going to be the same way,” he said.

Whether that means immediate fights remains to be seen.

Matthew Tkachuk admitted that he “didn’t like it” when Canadian fans booed during “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and after hearing a mixture of cheers and boos on Monday night during Team Canada’s matchup with Team Finland in the TD Garden, the U.S. fans could reciprocate on Thursday night.

Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Team Canada forward Brandon Hagel fight in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

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Either way, Team Canada is looking for revenge and bragging rights as winners of this tournament after allowing three unanswered goals, with Connor McDavid’s goal kicking off the scoring, on Saturday night.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 18, 2025
US hockey star Charlie McAvoy receives praise for big hit on Canada’s Connor McDavid in intense 4 Nations game

The 4 Nations Face-Off matchup between the U.S. and Canada had sports fans everywhere talking about the anthem booing and the three subsequent fights in the first 9 seconds of the game.

Lost in that is what the U.S. had to overcome to win the matchup and advance to the final.

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Connor Hellebuyck, #37 of Team United States, celebrates with Charlie McAvoy, #25, as Brock Faber, #14, looks on after their 3-1 win in the 4 Nations Face-Off game between the United States and Canada at Bell Centre on Feb. 15, 2025 in Montreal. (Andre Ringuette/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images)

Canada’s Connor McDavid opened the scoring soon after when the electricity was at its highest. Canada hoped to steal one and send their fans home happy, but the U.S. looked to reset the tone immediately after, and the Americans believed Charlie McAvoy did just that.

McAvoy put a big hit on McDavid in the first period, and 19 seconds later, Jake Guentzel got the equalizer past Jordan Binnington. Matthew Tkachuk said it was McAvoy’s hit that revitalized the team.

“That also is a message-sending moment — probably one of the plays of the game,” the Florida Panthers star said. “They just scored a goal, the building was rocking and Charlie comes there and pops McDavid, like one of the hardest hits I’ve seen.”

Canada’s Connor McDavid, #97, and Sidney Crosby, #87, talk during the third period of a 4 Nations Face-Off hockey game against the United States in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Graham Hughes//The Canadian Press via AP)

JUSTIN TRUDEAU SAYS HE’S ‘DAMN PROUD’ OF CANADA AS FANS BOO US NATIONAL ANTHEM, FACES ONLINE RIDICULE

Tkachuk added that McAvoy’s teammates “followed” McAvoy’s aggressiveness afterward.

“That hit Charlie threw on (McDavid) was kind of a game-changer,” U.S. defenseman Zach Werenski said. “He’s been known to do that. He’s great with his size, he’s really good defensively and I thought that was a perfectly timed hit to get our team going in the right direction.”

Dylan Larkin put the U.S. up 2-1 in the second period, and Guentzel later put one in an empty net and the U.S. won the game.

McDavid still held out hope Canada can bounce back and get to the final for a rematch.

“It was fast, tight-checking, competitive, emotional,” he said, via The Athletic. “It had everything you would want in a hockey game. It sucks it didn’t go our way, but this thing’s far from over.”

Canada’s Sidney Crosby, #87, is checked by United States’ Charlie McAvoy, #25, as Vincent Trocheck, #16, looks on during first period 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

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The U.S. will play Sweden and Canada will play Finland in the final games before the championship.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 17, 2025