Canadian officials have urged spectators not to take their anger against Donald Trump out on American kids at youth hockey games after a series of booing incidents.
Quebec mayor Bruno Marchand made the plea in a Tuesday press conference, asking fans not to boo during the American national anthem when US teams play at a Peewee hockey tournament scheduled for next week in the city.
The request was inspired by recent instances of Canadian sports fans — enraged by President Donald Trump’s tariffs — booing and jeering when the US anthem is played when American teams compete in Canadian arenas.
Voice your discontent, Marchand said, but leave the kids out of it.
“Booing peewees, going after people who come here to visit, to spend money here in our restaurants, our hotels, our events, would be a very bad idea,” he said in a statement reported by TSN.
“Donald Trump is not the Americans, and the Americans are not Donald Trump,” the mayor added.
Last week, Trump finalized his promised 25% tariff on goods from Canada as well as Mexico. Just hours later, spectators at an Ottawa Senators vs. Nashville Predators match booed singer Mandia’s rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, which was played along with ‘O Canada.
Next week, dozens of American teams will enter the city for the Peewee tournament.
Along with the mayor, Quebec’s sports minister Isabelle Charest urged fans to keep sports and politics separate.
“Young hockey players have nothing to do with what President Trump wants to put in place,” the Montreal Gazette quoted her as saying at Tuesday’s press conference.
