There were three different fights within the first nine seconds of the United States versus Canada 4 nations hockey game. The first fight was initiated by Zach Werenski, who is an American hockey star defenseman who usually plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The fights were in retaliation after the Canadian fans booed during the American national anthem on February 15th. Werenski said, “We knew it was going to happen. It happened in the last game; it had been happening in the NHL before this, and we knew tonight was going to be the same way. We obviously don’t like it.” Werenski highlighted the disrespect the fans were showing during the anthem.
The Canadian fans disrespected the American team by bashing their national symbol. The incident between the two teams highlights the ongoing debate over patriotism, freedom of speech, and protests in sports. Issues like this have recently taken off in the sports world in recent years, and have become especially prevalent, with athletes using their platform to take political stances. Werenski had an apparent response to the Canadian fan’s actions. By starting the fight, he stood up for his country and proved he was not going to back down. The American team went on to win the game 3-1.
When interviewing with long-time sports fan William Gustafson, I learned how he felt about the violence. “After viewing the fight, I was proud to be a US citizen. It proves that we do not back down when facing adversity. It was also an electric way to start the game and get energy towards team USA.”
This story is relevant to Whitewater because this college town has a mix of athletics and a strong local sporting culture. With Whitewater having such a diverse population, the local reaction will be based on different perspectives on patriotism, protests, and freedom of speech.
James Dingle is a long-time hockey player who even plays on a local junior team called the Janesville Jets. “It’s sad to think that even though this is a “rivalry” game, Canada is supposed to be our closest ally, but their fans are representing them poorly. One thing about hockey that has stayed consistent throughout my time playing is class, and what the team Canada fans did was completely classless and did not represent the hockey community well at all.”
The last person I interviewed was superintendent and youth hockey coach Dr. Wilm. “I’ve coached sports all my life. What the Canadian fans did during the national anthem was utterly disgusting, and they got what they deserved for it. I’m happy that the American team stood up for themselves and gave the Canadians what they deserved.
Overall, the fights were good for the hockey community. It was able to electrify the game at an early start and show other teams that Team USA does not back down.
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