Sporadic jeers, sitting during U.S. anthem at Montreal Canadiens game

A small number of fans at the Montreal Canadiens hockey game against the New Jersey Devils decided to boo the anthem.

In the Montreal Canadiens first home game since U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods, a handful of Habs fan continued the trend north of the border of booing the star spangled banner before the game.

Some decided just to sit.

The game against the New Jersey Devils began with announcer Michel Lacroix asking the crowd to respect both anthems despite recent events.

A handful of fans, however, ignored the request and started to boo.

Habs fans boo US anthem before Devils game Fans stand during the national anthem of the United States prior to an NHL hockey between the Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils in Montreal, Saturday, February 8, 2025. (Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press) (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

Montreal now joins Ottawa, Vancouver and Toronto where spectators protested the Trump tariffs and other statements about Canada by booing.

Earlier this week, Premier Francois Legault urged Quebecers to remain respectful, saying many Americans do not support Trump’s action.

Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand and others added their plea to not boo during next week’s prestigious Peewee hockey tournament in the provincial capital.

Mosinee, Wisconsin-native Cole Caufield said this week that he hoped fans would refrain from booing.

Some fans chose to sit for the anthem.