Donald Trump has attended multiple sporting events since he took office last month, and the general manager of the U.S. hockey team is hoping the president will continue that tour on Thursday night.
Former NHL star Bill Guerin, the GM of Team USA, said during an interview with FOX News this week that he would love to see Trump at Thursday night’s 4 Nations Face-Off final between the U.S. and Canada. The game will be played at TD Garden in Boston, Mass.
“We would love it if President Trump was in attendance. We have a room full of proud American players and coaches and staff. And listen, we’re just trying to represent our country the best way we can,” Guerin said during a Monday appearance on “America’s Newsroom.”
The US beat Canada in the round robin game between the countries 3-1 on Saturday in Montreal to clinch a spot in the final. Canada advanced to the final with a 5-3 win over Finland on Monday.
Guerin thought the first game between the U.S. and Canada was the “highest level of hockey ever played.” He credited Trump for adding “political flare” to the matchup with the president’s threats of tariffs against Canada and talk of making the country the 51st U.S. state.
“I think there was a little bit of a political flare to it. It’s just the time that we’re in. I think our guys used that as inspiration,” Guerin said. “If you let it get the better of you, then you’re in trouble. But I really do think the players used it as inspiration.”
Canadian fans booed the U.S. national anthem before more than one round robin game. That almost certainly contributed to the three fights that broke out in the first 9 seconds of the U.S.-Canada game.
With the final being held in Boston, the U.S. should have a huge home-ice advantage. One Canadian star does not seem all that concerned.
Trump attended Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans earlier this month and was at the Daytona 500 on Sunday. It will be interesting to see if he adds the 4 Nations Face-Off final to his schedule.
