US and Canada Clash in Desperate Ice Hockey Brawl

A fiery ice hockey game between Canada and the US turned into mayhem from the start in Montreal on Saturday. The intensely emotional, charged-up game saw three fights break out within the first nine seconds. This came on the heels of a cacophony of boos from fans at Bell Centre as the US national anthem was played, again increasing the tension. The enmity between the two nations, fueled by political beliefs, spilled onto the ice.

The fights began right after the first puck drop. Canada’s Brandon Hagel and the US’s Matthew Tkachuk initiated it by exchanging punches, then Canada’s Sam Bennett and the US’s Brady Tkachuk soon after, then J.T. Miller and Canada’s Colton Parayko in the third fight. The game continued despite the commotion as referees stepped in.

USA coach Mike Sullivan praised the players for the intensity they had shown for their nations and teams, and Canada coach Jon Cooper also clarified that the fights were not planned but were a result of the high emotions of the game.

The ice drama did not stop high, with Canada’s Connor McDavid scoring the first goal, only for the US to level. The USA took the lead through Dylan Larkin’s second-period strike and wrapped up the 4-2 victory with Jake Guentzel’s empty-netter. The game was a rare international encounter, with the top NHL players from both countries not having played each other in years.