It's "upsetting" to hear Canadian hockey fans booing the United States' national anthem when it's played in arenas, NHL analyst Kevin Weekes told Newsmax Sunday.
Weekes was responding to fans at NHL games in Ottawa and Calgary earlier this month booing the U.S. national anthem after President Donald Trump announced import tariffs of 25% on Canada.
"We are two independently unique countries and great countries in our own way, but we're a lot stronger when we're unified," Weekes said on Newsmax's "Sunday Report." "I think ultimately we're not only neighbors, we're also families. That's really what the two countries are. And I can say that firsthand."
Weekes, a retired professional NHL goaltender, said he grew up in Canada and now holds dual citizenship with Canada and the United States, and called it a "little bit damning" to hear the national anthem being jeered.
The tariffs have been put on hold, and this weekend, there was only a smattering of boos during Saturday night's game between the Canadiens and the New Jersey Devil in Montreal, reported local media.
"As a former goalie in the league for over 11 years, when I hear that anthem play and the same thing now as a broadcaster when I hear both anthems play, I get chills up my spine before I sit in the net to start the game," Weekes said.
Meanwhile, there is a "lot at stake" with the 4 Nations Face-Off, which will be held from Feb. 12-20 and features international tournament play between NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States.
"Any time you wear your national sweater in a tournament you're representing not only your club team, but you're representing your neighbors, your family, people that you haven't even met, everybody across the country," said Weekes. "So there's a pride in wearing your national sweater. And there certainly will be in this tournament for all four teams"
He added that he owes "everything to Canada" but he is also "American-made to a different extent" so he owes "everything" to "two unbelievable countries that I'm very fortunate, as is my family, to be a part of."
Weekes acknowledged that these are "challenging times" between the United States and Canada" because of "changes in the political landscape in both sides of the border."
Still, he said, "These are two of the best countries. We're very fortunate to call these countries home, two of the best countries in the world … everybody in the world would love to live the North American dream. It is second to none."
He said the moment is a srtong one.
"As a broadcaster analyst, when I hear those anthems, sometimes literally when calling the game in the venue, whether it's in Tampa, Saint Louis, Ottawa, Montreal, here in New York, when I hear the anthems, it almost brings a tear to my eye because of all that it represents for both countries," Weekes said. "So let's hope that there's a path towards healing here going forward."
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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