3 fights in 9 seconds: What led to the fist fights between US, Canada ice hockey teams. Watch video

A stormy ice hockey clash between the United States and Canada in Montreal on Saturday saw three fights erupt in the first nine seconds and a deafening chorus of boos for the US national anthem. The highly anticipated showdown between the star-studded line-ups of these North American rivals unfolded against a backdrop of political tension between the two nations, fueling an emotionally charged atmosphere at Montreal’s Bell Centre.

Despite the US squad securing a 3-1 victory and a place in the 4 Nations Face-Off final in Boston on Thursday, the game was overshadowed by the chaos that unfolded in its opening moments. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in attendance as home fans jeered “The Star-Spangled Banner,” a reaction that has become common at NHL and NBA games in Canada following US President Donald Trump's tariff threats on Canadian goods.



Almost immediately after the puck drop, the game descended into mayhem. Canada’s Brandon Hagel and USA’s Matthew Tkachuk were the first to exchange punches, igniting the crowd as their teammates stepped back to let the brawl unfold. Referees intervened and sent both players to the penalty box, only for another fight to break out between Canada’s Sam Bennett and USA’s Brady Tkachuk, forcing officials to separate them and send Brady to join his brother in the box. The game resumed briefly before J.T. Miller of the US and Colton Parayko of Canada engaged in the third and final fight within the first nine seconds of play.

USA coach Mike Sullivan saw the skirmishes as a testament to the players’ passion and competitive spirit, insisting it reflected their deep investment in winning. He denied any prior agreement among the US players to start with a fight, despite reports of discussions in a group chat. Canada coach Jon Cooper, who will lead the nation’s 2026 Olympic team, also dismissed the idea that the melee was planned, calling it a purely organic reaction.

Once the chaos settled, Canada took the lead with Connor McDavid’s goal at 5:31 in the first period. However, the US responded swiftly, leveling the score with Jake Guentzel’s goal at 10:15. Dylan Larkin’s goal at 13:33 of the second period put the Americans ahead for good, and Guentzel sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minutes of the game.

The match carried extra significance as it marked the first time in nearly a decade that top NHL players from the US and Canada faced off for their home nations, given the league’s absence from the past two Winter Olympics. Reflecting on the intensity, Cooper described the first moments as “10 years of no international hockey exhaled in a minute and a half.”