A rendition of the Canadian national anthem was briefly drowned out by boos from US hockey fans before Thursday night’s 4 Nations final in Boston.

With controversy swirling around American President Donald Trump and his looming threat of tariffs on Canada, the United States and their neighbor to the north are getting ready for what looks to be a heated showdown on the ice at TD Garden.

As is custom before sporting fixtures, the two teams’ respective national anthems were performed before the championship game got underway.

And US supporters packed into the arena were heard booing furiously when Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk began her rendition of ‘O Canada’.

However, as the anthem continued the jeers appeared to slowly fade out, before the visiting fans in attendance could be heard singing along proudly. 

Despite the initial cacophony of boos overshadowing her performance, Kreviazuk faced social media backlash for allegedly ‘butchering’ the Canadian anthem, with fans mercilessly branding it as ‘the worst rendition ever’.

The Canadian national anthem was briefly drowned out by boos from US hockey fans in Boston

USA are facing Canada amid the controversy surrounding American president Donald Trump

The final on Thursday night is taking place in a climate of heightened tensions between the United States and Canada, fueled further by Trump’s tariff threats and his provocative jabs at the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state of America.

He also referred to Justin Trudeau as ‘governor’ in a brutal swipe at the Canadian prime minister ahead of the hockey showdown.

Earlier in the day Trump sparked a Canadian hockey meltdown when he wished Team USA good luck in a message on X, which was shared by PK Subban – a former NHL star from Canada.

Subban was then furiously criticized by compatriot and fellow hockey player Akim Aliu, who accused him of siding with ‘the oppressor’ in Trump by sharing his post.

Aliu, who is Nigerian-born and half-Ukrainian, has previously opened up about the racism he suffered during his career and therefore took aim at the ESPN star, telling him ‘no one liked you’ and warning: ‘History will judge you accordingly’.  

‘I’ve watched you from afar and never said anything for two main reasons. 1 being the respect I have for your brothers and parents & 2 I’ve always wanted to keep the in fighting between folks of color to a minimum,’ Aliu wrote. 

‘This was something I couldn’t let go – I’ve known you since I was ten years old and played with you so I’d say I know you better than most at a deeper level. 

‘You were a hell of a player and instead of using your platform you did everything in your power to gain acceptance and popularity, nothing with you has ever been genuine but transactional and usually for publicity reasons.

Thursday night’s final is being played amid heightened tension between USA and Canada

Former Canadian hockey player PK Subban was branded ‘a sell-out of the highest proportion’ for sharing a post by Trump before the game

Subban shared a post from President Trump wishing USA good luck for the crucial final

Akim Aliu called Subban a ‘disgrace’

‘Even during this most sensitive time both politically and socially you take the side of the oppressor because that’s who you make your money from. 

‘I would (have) thought the “love” you have always claimed for your country, a country you represented at the highest levels would shine through to push back on rhetoric of annexation and humiliation of the very land you are born and raised in, but even that doesn’t get you to do the right morally.’

Subban, who had not publicly responded to the comments at the time of writing, gained fame outside of hockey after he was engaged to skiing legend Lindsey Vonn.

But Aliu insisted: ‘Every place you have played – no one liked you and players on the inside have always known who you really are – a sell out of the highest proportions. 

‘You are the perfect example of why people of color haven’t progressed at the highest levels of society. From one man to another, you’re a disgrace and history will judge you accordingly.’

The rendition of ‘O Canada’ before Thursday’s championship game received a brutal response from fans online. 

Chantal Kreviazuk’s rendition of ‘O Canada’ before the final was slammed by fans online

Social-media users felt Kreviazuk messed up the lyrics before Canada’s big hockey game

Canadian songwriter Kreviazuk switched between English and French lyrics and stumbled through some of her lines initially, before going on to hold certain notes longer than usual in the song.

‘That might be the worst Canadian anthem I’ve heard… Wow. I’m sure she was nervous but messing up lyrics multiple times in the first sentence is crazy,’ one user wrote on X.

‘That singer that sang the Canadian anthem, is from Canada… Why didn’t she know the lyrics ??,’ another asked.

‘I dont know it, obviously, but it lowkey sounded like the woman singing the canadian anthem was singing like she was only about 70% sure she knew the lyrics lol,’ a third added.