Why do Americans Boo "O Canada" at NHL Games?

Question

I've always wanted to know.. is it because you think our teams suck, or do you think our country sucks? Or something else? I hear booing during O Canada at every NHL game that takes place in the States, I've always wondered why!

Answer 1

I have never booed O Canada . In fact I sing it. I am an American. Down in Florida I have only heard the O Canada anthem booed once. That was only after some Canadians had booed the US anthem on National Television. The few that did boo were shouted down by the rest of us. It never happened again. It is very rude. Period

Answer 2

I don't boo it. I do know that Canadians were the first to boo an anthem though. I've never heard of Americans booing O Canada, especially when half of their team could be Canadian.



I do know that Montreal, the city of the gay, where the people aren't French, they just want to be French (I don't know which is worse), is the first progressive little trend setter to ever try to offend a neighbor nation with the booing of the American nation anthem a couple years back. Nobody hates Canada in the U.S., because Canada doesn't have a big enough impact on anybody's life in the U.S. south of Michigan. America is always the target of international scrutiny, and I think it's pretty ignorant of an entire city, or country for that matter, to boo an anthem based on one administration's foreign policy. Very disrespectful. I don't agree with Americans booing your anthem either, because once again, you're not just offending the fans at that Habs game, you're offending an otherwise decent nation. Most people like Ontario (I suppose the rest of Canada too, but I live 20 minutes away from Ontario so most people near me have formed some opinion of Ontario at this point). I think it might be some your French Canadian friends that are ruining your image. I personally have never booed O Canada. I actually know almost all of the words by now.

Answer 3

Many are loaded and rowdy and boo anything, like equating the opponent with the country. Others do not want to sit through 2 anthems. I think it is disrespectful, and fans may not realize it, but all teams in the NHL have Canadian players and these disrespectful fans may actually be booing some of their own team's players. I did not notice it much when the Thrashers were in Atlanta, but I have not been to a game since they moved to Winnipeg.

Answer 4

I've heard Canadians booing the American anthem. I've heard Americans booing the Canadian anthem. There are idiots everywhere, and because of those idiots it makes a whole nation and all the hockey fans from that region look bad. The people who boo anthems are stupid and know nothing about the game.

Answer 5

I for one have never booed the canadian anthem. In fact I sing both the Canadian and American anthem at games. Why some people boo either, not sure. Some may say country pride or some people think its boring. I don't really know but another option is don't sing, stay silent.

Answer 6

I have never heard Americans boo the Canadian anthem. I went to a game when carolina played montreal and no one booed. Maybe the game you went to the fans were just booing because it was not there team, but like i said i have never hear that before.

Answer 7

Just to be fair, there were some Canadians booing the American anthem, too; most recently during the Habs/Bruins series. It sounded like half of the building was booing and the other half was cheering because it was a cheer that had a lot of heavy bass in it.

Answer 8

I don't know....but when I was at the Sharks game some ppl we're booing the national anthem. Then sharks fans got upset and booed during the O Canado song. That was first time I heard something like that. I personally think its rude.

Answer 9

Why do Canadians boo The American National Anthem at NHL Games?





It's simple, because some people have no class, I personally would never boo any National anthem.

Answer 10

You are mistaken. The Canadian National Anthem is very rarely booed if booed at all. I have heard The American National Anthem booed in every Canadian arena. The worst booing happens during international games between the US and Canada. American hockey fans have so much respect for the game that they will not disrespect the birthplace of the game. The booing of the American National Anthem started during the first world cup of hockey back in 1996 (from what I can remember). Before game 2 in Hamilton Ont the fans booed the US anthem from beginning to end. Before game three in Montreal they booed even louder. The US got even by winning the first World Cup of Hockey.

Answer 11

As someone mentioned already, here in Buffalo, we have a pretty even mix of american and canadian fans, so we always play both regardless of where the team we're playing is from.



As a personal note, many born and raised Buffalonians proudly sing both anthems... since we are so close to each other, many canadian fans I have met since along to ours too.



I guess it depends on where you are and how classy the fans in any given area are at the time.

Answer 12

It by no skill used to take place till a interest from long island grew to become into televised back to Canada some years back and that they booed in the path of the full Canadian anthem. interior of right here weeks it occurred numerous situations extra in extra US cities. From that factor on it appeared to have become customary prepare for many places on the two part of the border to boo the others anthem. that's classless and that i'm sorry it occurs. it might have began by fact we refused to deliver out troops to Iraq back then. We took a great style of flack for that yet because it grew to become out we've been top in saying no. Why it maintains seems extra of a infantile tit for tat element than any deep rooted hatred. i'm hoping it passes quickly.

Answer 13

This has happened unfortunately both ways. In any case the participants were booed by the rest of the fans in the arena.

Generally hockey fans are tolerant of each other's country and are respectful of each other.



Now if I were Santa Claus and in Philadelphia I'd have a concern.

Answer 14

Heres a clip of Montreal Canadian fans booing the U.S National Anthem. It was the Montreal Canadians against the Bruins.



http://youtube.com/watch?v=EFEFkadk4yM&feature=related



Boston fans responded with applauding, and singing the "O Canada".



http://youtube.com/watch?v=7TxpxFqAV4I&feature=related

Answer 15

Anyone that boos the canadian or americain anthem is ignorant , uneducated and probably a nfl fan at heart.

Answer 16

I have never heard anyone boo at any anthem in almost 50 NHL/WHL games in my life.

Answer 17

I have never booed any anthem - and that takes tact having lived in several countries and having had several family members murdered because they refused to cooperate with the enemy and/or were POWs during wartime (includes one who was decepated during the Battan Death March when the Japanese learned he spoke their language)

Answer 18

It started for some reason when a Canadian team booed our National Anthem. Now nobody will grow up and let it go.

Answer 19

i was at a game vs the oilers and nobody booed the canadien anthem(this is in dc im talking here.) I like to hear the canadien anthem

Answer 20

Chalk it up to good ole alcohol. You just add some booze and fans get stupid. Its seems to happen in places that arent close to Canada, as opposed to the ones that border it. Heck, I knew the words to Oh Cananda, when i was 5 years old. Dont let dumb people ruin your image of a whole Country, alot of us like Canada... Canadians do the same thing, and I just ignore it.. To each his own..

Answer 21

Never heard it happen. We may be arrogant Americans, but we have enough class to not boo national anthems... I should hope.

Answer 22

It started after montreal booed the american anthem and then the rangers fans booed the candian and in philadelphia there are a few boos and most people just give a polite clap then here our anthem. Certin people are idiots and do that i personally dont see the point in booing your anthem.

Answer 23

I'm thinking it is more of a BOO towards the team, not your Country.

I'm a Redneck Hillbilly yank and I sing along with O'Canada...our home and native land...well at least for as much as I remember.

Answer 24

I've never heard of anyone booing O'Canada. I have heard Canadians booing our national anthem (I think) on tv. When the Sharks play Dallas we bood everytime they sang "stars" but I think that was the American Anthem we were booing.

Answer 25

I go to quite a few games and I have never heard that. If anything it's the Canadian fans who are disrespectful during our anthem.

Answer 26

They weren't booing, they were chanting:

"Booo-urns Booo-urns!!"



But seriously I think it goes both ways and only happens in a few cities during the playoffs when emotions are high. I go to Kings games all the time, and hear nothing but cheers for O'Canada when canadian teams are in town.

I think the first time I heard something like this was during a basketballl game, maybe Toronto @ Philadelphia.

Answer 27

depends on where you live. I have went to Sabres games and they always play O Canada regardless of the opponent because we're so close to Canada. I can't speak for the NASCAR region, but I would imagine that most northern states feel the same way.

Answer 28

In Chicago, it is NEVER booed. In fact, there are many people that sing along (I do) - and it always gets a great ovation when it is over.



It's a good song.

Answer 29

Depends on the state. States that know there hockey appreciate where the players come from. You will see booing in states like California etc, etc.

Answer 30

Really? I've never seen that happen. At Hurricanes games, some people even sing along.



Don't generalize due to one incident or something like that. It makes you seem stupid. and it's a major logical fallacy.

Answer 31

Well there are some very classless Americans out there who think it's alright to do that. And sadly there are some classless Canadians who do the same! Hopefully one day they all realize to respect other nations culture!



There is a difference between being Patriotic and being Classless!

Answer 32

You have never heard that, and I doubt you've attended or seen every game ever played in a US arena. Montreal, however...

Answer 33

I've never heard that in the UC, where most are pretty knowledgable fans.

Answer 34

Really? I've never heard that.



Maybe it's the hate speech laws you guys have. Who knows?

Answer 35

no the canandians fans started this in the playoffs ,april 2002 against the BRUINS ,right after 9/11/01 NO CLASS CANADA !!!!!!!!!!

Answer 36

I vote for Vinny's answer.

Answer 37

I think you're not hearing what you think you're hearing ... not many Americans know any words of the CNA past 'Oh Canada' and so they hum the rest and it just sounds like boos.... hey, it could happen..... lol

Answer 38

I never noticed they did....one thing i don't do it...and even if they do i think its wrong to do.

Answer 39

Some of us are still bitter from the War of 1812. If it weren't for Major-General Brock and his Indian allies, you would rightly be our 51st state.

Answer 40

Jealousy. The Canadian National Anthem sounds so much cooler than ours does. We should change our National anthem to "Free Bird".

Answer 41

cuz were from america