The Americans aren't the only team seemingly making patriotism a rallying cry at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
One day after USA GM Bill Guerin told Fox News his team had a room full proud Americans and that he hoped President Donald Trump would come watch the final, Canadian defenceman Brandon Hagel said the Maple Leaf gives his squad motivation.
“I think we’re out there playing for the flag, not the cameras. That’s a part of Canada that we have in there," Hagel said Tuesday as his team prepared for Thursday's final in Boston.
"We don’t need to initiate anything. We don’t have any group chats going on. We’re going out there playing our game and then giving it everything and doing it for our country.”
The reference to group chats may have been a bit of a subtle shot at the American players.
After the now-famous start to Saturday's U.S.-Canada game with three fights in nine seconds, American forwards Matthew and Brady Tkachuk said the team talked about how the contest would begin on a group chat earlier in the day.
Matthew Tkachuk determined he wanted to drop the gloves with Hagel after the opening faceoff, and the Tampa Bay Lightning winger obliged. The Americans went on to beat Canada 3-1 in Montreal.
Time will tell if there are more fireworks in the final.
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