Amidst international tariffs and tension, on Feb. 20, Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid scored the decisive goal for a 3-2 victory, winning Canada the 4 Nations championship and possibly initiating a convincing political push-back.
With a federal election likely coming, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation and the 47th President Donald Trump’s orders for full Canadian dependence, Canada’s victory is more than simply confetti and cheers. Instead, it marks a change in perspective – a shift towards unity not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
From coast to coast and community to community, Canadian fans were huddled tight around each other, cheering in elation after McDavid’s shot zipped past US goalie Connor Hellebuyck. “That American team is as solid as you’re going to find. They’re solid all around, but we just found a way in a tough building just to get it done,” said McDavid in an interview following the game.
Thousands cheered with an even more incisive frenzy displayed on social media after the game had ended. Canadian corporations like Canadian Tire joined in on the momentous victory.
HockeyCanada’s Instagram posted with the caption “O CANADA” to which Canadian Tire’s Instagram account, @canadiantire replied “Can’t beat us at OUR game.”
These passionate Canadian responses run deeper, marking not only a pushback to Donald Trump’s trade war threats and 51st state rhetoric, but a spark of Canadian nationalism that has been internationally unclear for a long time.
University of Toronto political analyst Robert Schertzer commented on the topic: “People often remark that Canada has no real national identity. That we are simply not American, or that we are so fragmented by regional identities that we have no shared sense of being one community,” he said.
This statement stems from an observation of how, for a significant amount of time, the diverse identities in Canada have blurred into an unclear national identity. This poses questions such as “how exactly are Canadians together?” and “what commonalties do all Canadians share?”
While tempting, this unfortunately common perspective fails to acknowledge how Canadians have managed to progress forward and reconcile different worldviews despite these competing nationalities.
With a multicultural vision influencing the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, to making progress towards reconciling a dark Indigenous past, Canadians have found ways to protect and respect the diverse cultures that its citizens are composed of.
In doing so, the country has been able to form a unique identity of its own. This unique identity was on full display on Feb. 20.
It’s fair to say that aside from the broken beer glasses and the eruptive celebrations, a key takeaway from the game can signify one thing— the restoration of Canadian unity.
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