A tense hockey showdown between the United States and Canada at the NHL-run 4 Nations Face-Off tournament turned into a spectacle of fights and jeers Saturday night, as Canadian fans loudly booed “The Star-Spangled Banner” before their team fell to Team USA.

The incident unfolded at the Bell Centre in Montreal, where more than 20,000 fans packed the arena.

As Royal Canadian Air Force member David Grenon began singing the U.S. national anthem, the crowd erupted into boos that nearly drowned out the performance.

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The jeers peaked during the lyrics “and the rockets’ red glare,” as the overwhelmingly Canadian audience made their discontent known.

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In stark contrast, Canada’s national anthem, “O Canada,” was performed without interruption and with enthusiastic participation from the crowd.

The animosity carried onto the ice as soon as the puck dropped.

Within the first nine seconds of play, three fights broke out between American and Canadian players, setting a combative tone for the game.

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Team USA’s Matthew Tkachuk and Canada’s Brandon Hagel were the first to drop the gloves, quickly followed by two more skirmishes involving other players.

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The physical play captivated American fans, with social media lighting up over the early-game brawls.

“I didn’t care about this USA hockey game but that was 19 fights ago,” Barstool Sports president Dave Portnoy posted on X, as he live-tweeted the game.

One user on X summed up the excitement, writing, “America beating the s—t out of Canada. 3 fights in 9 seconds, America won all 3, wasn’t even close. Bunch of damn maple syrup drinking, moose riding, leaf loving, commies.”

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The crowd’s hostility toward the U.S. anthem came amid recent remarks by President Donald Trump, who has joked about the possibility of making Canada the 51st state.

During a Thursday press event, Trump commented on the economic and security benefits of Canada joining the U.S., saying, “Look, the people would pay much less tax than they’re paying right now, they’d have perfect military protection.”

He also questioned the financial relationship between the two countries, stating, “Why would we pay $200 billion a year in subsidies to Canada when [they’re] not a state?”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who attended the game wearing a jersey with Canada’s maple leaf emblem, posted a video of himself and his son at the event with the caption, “True North, strong and free.”

Despite the hostile crowd and heated gameplay, Team USA secured a 3-1 victory over Canada, earning a spot in the tournament’s championship final, set for Feb. 20 in Boston.

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The game-winning goal came from Michigan native Dylan Larkin, captain of the Detroit Red Wings, sealing an American win on enemy ice.