‘National emergency’ if Canada loses to U.S. in 4 Nations final, says ex-NHLer

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Former NHLer-turned-analyst Paul Bissonnette has been known to dial up the rhetoric on occasion, but it wouldn’t be surprising if many Canadians agree with his latest take.

Bissonnette says that it could be a “national emergency” should Team Canada lose Thursday night’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship matchup with Team USA.

Considering all of the tension between the two neighbouring nations, that might not be all too much hyperbole, either.

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‘BizNasty’ made the declaration during an appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast on Wednesday when he was asked if it would be “a crisis” if the Americans win the final.

“When the U.S. wins on Thursday, is it going to be like crisis in Canada? Like, ‘Oh my God, we’ve got nothing,’” Barstool Sports host Dan Katz asked Bissonnette.

“It would be safe to say, ‘Yes,’ it would be a national emergency if we lose that game on Thursday,” Bissonnette replied.

The six-year NHL veteran also detailed what sort of hand-wringing would come up should Team Canada fall short at TD Garden in Boston.

“For a week straight everybody’s going to argue about the lineup decisions, there would be conversations about blowing up Hockey Canada and restructuring the whole thing. There will be dialogue about how youth hockey is far too expensive, how much it is to rent ice, how much it is to buy equipment, about how the common man has been weeded out,” Bissonnette said.

When the teams met on Saturday, tensions were high as fans in Montreal loudly booed the U.S. national anthem in response to President Donald Trump’s recent threats to issue tariffs and also suggesting that Canada should become America’s 51st state.

Within the first nine seconds of the contest, there were three separate fights, raising the temperature of the rivalry even further.

At the opening puck drop, Matthew Tkachuk of the U.S. and Canada’s Brandon Hagel dropped the gloves. Just two seconds later, Matthew’s brother, Brady, went toe-to-toe with Sam Bennett and then, shortly after, J.T. Miller and Colton Parayko got into a fight of their own.

After things settled down, the visiting Americans went on to win the game 3-1 and clinch a spot in the final.

Bill Guerin, the GM of Team USA, commented on the brawl when he was asked it was sparked by the booing, previous heat between players, or the political strife between the U.S. and Canada. 

“I think a little bit of everything. Canada-U.S. is a huge rivalry in hockey,” he said. “I think there was a little bit of a political flare to it. It’s just the time that we’re in. I think our guys used that as inspiration. If you let it get the better of you, then you’re in trouble. But I really do think the players used it as inspiration.” 

Expect emotions to be running hot once again in Boston. On Thursday morning, Trump posted on his Truth Social account that he plans to give members of the United States hockey team a call before the game.

He also noted that someday he is hopeful that the two foes will be teammates as he hasn’t let up on a continued campaign to try to get Canada to join the United States.

“I’ll be calling our GREAT American Hockey Team this morning to spur them on towards victory tonight against Canada, which with FAR LOWER TAXES AND MUCH STRONGER SECURITY, will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished, and very important, Fifty First State,” Trump wrote.

“I will be speaking before the Governors tonight in D.C., and will sadly, therefore, (will) be unable to attend. But we will all be watching, and if Governor Trudeau would like to join us, he would be most welcome,” Trump added. “Good luck to everybody, and have a GREAT game tonight. So exciting!”