Canada's thrilling overtime victory against the U.S. in the 4 Nations Face-Off final on Thursday had fans on both sides of the border on the edge of their seats. But for Canadians, this win wasn't just about hockey — it was about national pride.
After Connor McDavid scored the game-winning goal at TD Garden in Boston, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wasted no time taking to X to share the following bold statement:
"You can't take our country — and you can't take our game."
The post was clearly a response to something American President Donald Trump posted earlier in the day. After revealing that he would not be able to attend the Boston event, Trump, who plans to impose heavy tariffs on Canada, continued to push the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state and referred to Trudeau as a "governor."
Trump continues to push ideas of Canadian annexation.@realDonaldTrump | Truth Social
Trudeau later doubled down on Instagram, proudly sporting his Team Canada jersey in celebration. His post quickly racked up thousands of likes and comments from Canadians cheering on the victory.
He wasn't the only one celebrating, though. Other party leaders joined in too. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre shared a patriotic message after the boys in red sealed the deal:
"Canada's game. Canada's legacy. The true North, strong, free, and golden."
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh was just as fired up, posting a photo of himself in a McDavid jersey.
The North American showdown truly was a nail-biter from start to finish. After a 1-1 tie in the first period and a 2-2 deadlock after the second, neither team could break through in the third. The tension was through the roof heading into overtime, where McDavid finally got it done at 8:18.
As O Canada echoed through the arena, Canadian players hoisted the trophy high. Forward Nathan MacKinnon was named MVP of the tournament, finishing with four goals.
Meanwhile, the rest of the internet continues to erupt with memes — because if there's one thing Canadians love more than winning at hockey, it's rubbing it in.
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