In the first home game against a U.S. based team since U.S. President Trump threatened tariffs and annexation, London Knights fans cheered both the American and Canadian anthems.
It bucks a recent trend that saw booing take place at the recent 4-Nations Faceoff and a number of other sporting events.
“Even though you might not be happy with President Trump and some of his threatened policies, you need to respect other countries, respect the anthem. A lot of those players are getting paid in American money anyway,” commented Knights fan Andy Rawlings, who attended the London Knights-Flint Firebirds Family Day game Monday with his family at Canada Life Place in London.
In Montreal on Saturday, hockey fans booed the American national anthem before singing O Canada ahead of the showdown between Canada and the United States at the 4-Nations Face-Off.
“I think it’s terrible, and I don’t think a sports venue is a place to be political. You’re here to watch a game and to support your team, and it just needs to stop because it looks bad on the rest of us,” said Knights fan Lisa Sayers.
A number of fans booed the U.S. anthem on Thursday when the Americans played Finland, continuing a trend from NHL games in Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver.
“I would rather they didn’t do it, but what are you going to do,” said Knights fan Rob Seldon. “Yeah, I just think were here to enjoy hockey and it doesn’t need to get political,” added Erin Seldon, who joined her father Rob at the London Family Day game.
During the opening ceremonies of the London-Flint game, a group of school children from Jack Chambers Public School in London took the spotlight.
The emcee asked fans to be respectful, and they obliged. No booing could be heard, and each anthem was followed by cheers and applause.
Each of the teams is about an hour from the U.S. border at Sarnia-Port Huron, making it relatively easy for fans to cross both ways to attend the games.
As for the teams themselves, the relationship has been cordial for the most part, with no real rivalry between them.
And while Monday’s game saw that cordial relationship continue, there are those who think it’s time to reconsider the appropriateness of anthems at all sporting events.
“I think sporting events is not the place really for anthems anymore. You know, let’s take them out of it,” said Knights fan Dale Steward.
