What does President Donald Trump have going on Thursday night? If he's not busy, Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin would really love it if Trump attended the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game between the U.S. and Canada at TD Garden in Boston.
Appearing on America's Newsroom Sunday, Guerin made his pitch to Trump after FOX News host Bill Hemmer said he thinks Trump should be at the game.
"We would love it if President Trump was in attendance," Guerin said, putting extra emphasis on the "love it" part of his response. "We have a room full of proud American players, coaches and staff. Listen, we're just trying to represent our country the best that we can."
The U.S. and Canada advanced to the title game with wins Sunday, just a few days after they went skate-to-skate in an epic battle that saw three fights happen in the first nine seconds of the game. The Americans went on to win 3-1, setting the stage for what should be a dramatic title match.
Was it bad blood between the players that prompted players to drop the gloves and fight immediately after the puck dropped last week? Was it the political turmoil caused by Trump threatening significant tariffs against Canada and suggesting it should end its time as a sovereign nation and become America's 51st state? Was it the fans in Montreal booing the "Star-Spangled Banner" as a result?
"I think a little bit of everything," Guerin said. "Canada-U.S. is a huge rivalry in hockey. I think there was a little bit of a political flare to it; it's just the time that we're in. And then 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."
While the fights stole the show, the game itself featured the best of the best.
"I have to be honest, that might've been the highest level of hockey ever played," Guerin said. "With both teams, both of those lineups, with superstars, future Hall-of-Famers, and it had everything. The fights were just the thing that started it off. The level of play was absolutely incredible and both teams put it all out there and that's good for our game."
Two members of the Minnesota Wild — forward Matt Boldy and defenseman Brock Faber — play for Team U.S.A.
Thursday's championship game starts at 7 p.m. CT and will be televised on ESPN and streamed on Disney+.
