Canada beats US in charged 4 Nations hockey final
'You can't take our country — and you can't take our game,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted after the game


What happened
Canada beat the U.S. 3-2 last night at Boston's TD Garden to win the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament. Canada's Connor McDavid scored the winning goal just over 8 minutes into overtime. Canada and the U.S. advanced to the final after eliminating Sweden and Finland.
Who said what
President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs and persistent "talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state" turned "what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into a geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy," The Associated Press said. Trump called the U.S. team Thursday and later derided Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "Governor Trudeau" on social media. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said "we look forward to the United States beating our soon-to-be 51st state, Canada."
"You can't take our country — and you can't take our game," Trudeau posted on X after the game. "Canada needed a win, and the players bared that on their shoulders," Canada head coach Jon Cooper said. "This wasn't a win for themselves. This was a win for 40-plus million people. And the guys knew it, and they delivered."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
The U.S. and Canada will next cross sticks at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, with NHL players participating for the first time in years. The last time the U.S. "won a best-on-best tournament involving NHL players" was against Canada in 1996, USA Today said. "Canada has now won six of the last seven tournaments since then."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Sumo wrestling is taking a beating
Under the Radar Scandals and high-profile resignations of former stars have 'sullied' image of Japan's national sport – but could its latest star turn the tide?
-
June 8 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include buy one, get one free presidential pardons, and Donald Trump eating an 'Unhappy Meal'
-
5 deadly funny cartoons about Joni Ernst's new catchphrase
Cartoons Political cartoons on 'We are all going to die'
-
Sports betting is causing athletes to be abused and harassed online
Under the radar Baseball players, tennis stars and others have raised the alarm
-
Chessboxing: the unique sport becoming a global hit
Under the Radar The sport involves a full game of chess interspersed with rounds of boxing
-
Why is the NFL considering banning the 'tush push' play?
Today's Big Question The play is widely used by the Philadelphia Eagles, to other teams' chagrin
-
Have the Rockies reached a breaking point?
the explainer Baseball's most aimless franchise takes aim at a record set just last year
-
MLB lifts ban on Pete Rose, other dead players
speed read 16 deceased players banned for gambling and other scandals can now be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
-
Torpedo bats could revolutionize baseball and players are taking notice
In the Spotlight The new bats have been used by the New York Yankees with tremendous success
-
George Foreman: The boxing champ who reinvented home grills
Feature He helped define boxing’s golden era
-
How is March Madness changing in the era of NIL and sports betting?
Today's Big Question College sports has experienced a revolution. NIL payments are letting players get paid. The rise of sports betting has brought new pressures to the game.