In a recent ice hockey game in Montreal, American players were ready for a tough crowd because of Donald Trump’s controversial comments about Canada possibly becoming a state of the U.S. Surprisingly, the players found that this negativity actually motivated them to play better. The match, which was part of the 4 Nations Face-Off, took place on February 16, 2025, and was filled with strong emotions from both the players and the fans.

The game kicked off with a bang, as three fights broke out in the first nine seconds. The crowd, made up of over 21,000 fans at the Bell Centre, was already buzzing with tension before the game even started. Canadian fans showed their anger towards Team USA by booing during the American national anthem and when the players were introduced, showing how upset they were about Trump’s recent comments.

Trump’s remarks, which included threats of tariffs and the idea that Canada should join the U.S., have made many Canadians angry. This anger has been clear at various sports events, where fans have booed the U.S. anthem at NHL and NBA games since he made those comments. The atmosphere at the 4 Nations Face-Off was no different, with Canadian fans loudly expressing their dissatisfaction.

Even with the tough crowd, the American team won the game 3-1 against Canada, which allowed them to move on to the tournament final. The American players celebrated their victory and used the crowd’s hostility to push them to perform better. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to social media to celebrate Canada’s earlier win against the U.S., emphasizing that Canada wouldn’t let Trump’s comments bring them down. The match also featured some intense fights, highlighting the fierce rivalry between the two teams.

Original news source: Ice hockey game between USA and Canada has three fights in first nine seconds (Sky News)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Each team will take turns selecting a player to act out key terms or phrases related to the article (e.g., “ice hockey,” “Donald Trump,” “Canada,” “fights,” “victory”). The other team will guess what is being acted out. Set a time limit for each round to keep the energy high.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Ask students to form small groups and discuss their opinions on the impact of political comments on sports events. After discussing, each group will share their thoughts with the class, and the teacher will tally the results on the board to see the overall opinion of the class.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: In pairs, have students create a catchy headline for the article that captures the main events and emotions. Encourage them to think creatively and use persuasive language. After a set time, each pair will present their headline to the class.

– SPEED SUMMARIZING
Instructions: Have students pair up and take turns summarizing the article in one minute. Each student will summarize while the other listens, then switch roles. After both have had a turn, they can share their summaries with another pair to compare.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On a large piece of paper or a whiteboard, have students create a mind map based on the article. They should start with “Ice Hockey Game” in the center and branch out with subtopics like “American Players,” “Canadian Fans,” “Trump’s Comments,” and “Game Outcome.” This will help them visualize the connections between different elements of the article.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What motivated the American players to perform better during the game in Montreal?
2. How did the Canadian fans show their anger towards the American team?
3. What were some of the controversial comments made by Donald Trump regarding Canada?
4. Describe the atmosphere at the Bell Centre before the game started.
5. How did the outcome of the game affect the American team’s chances in the tournament?
6. What actions did Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take after the game?
7. Why do you think the rivalry between Team USA and Team Canada is so intense?
8. What role did the fights during the game play in the overall excitement of the match?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a recent ice (1)______ game in Montreal, American (2)______ were ready for a tough crowd because of Donald Trump’s controversial comments about Canada possibly becoming a state of the U.S. Surprisingly, the players found that this (3)______ actually motivated them to play better. The match, which was part of the 4 Nations Face-Off, took place on February 16, 2025, and was filled with (4)______ emotions from both the players and the fans.

The game kicked off with a bang, as three fights broke out in the first nine seconds. The crowd, made up of over 21,000 fans at the Bell Centre, was already buzzing with tension before the game even started. (5)______ fans (6)______ their anger towards Team USA by booing during the American national anthem and when the players were introduced, showing how (7)______ they were about Trump’s (8)______ comments.

Trump’s remarks, which included threats of tariffs and the idea that Canada should join the U.S., have made many Canadians angry. This anger has been clear at (9)______ sports (10)______, where fans have booed the U.S. (11)______ at NHL and NBA games since he made those comments. The atmosphere at the 4 Nations Face-Off was no different, with Canadian fans loudly expressing their dissatisfaction.

Even with the tough (12)______, the American team won the game 3-1 against Canada, which allowed them to move on to the tournament final. The American players celebrated their victory and used the crowd’s hostility to push them to (13)______ better. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to (14)______ media to celebrate Canada’s earlier win against the U.S., emphasizing that Canada wouldn’t let Trump’s comments bring them down. The match also (15)______ some (16)______ fights, highlighting the fierce rivalry between the two teams.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on how sports can unite or divide people?
2. How would you feel if you were booed during a performance or game?
3. Do you think it’s okay for fans to express their anger during a sports event? Why or why not?
4. What is a rivalry in sports, and can you think of another example besides hockey?
5. How do you think athletes feel when they perform in front of a hostile crowd?
6. Do you like watching sports where there is a lot of emotion involved? Why or why not?
7. What is your experience with competitive sports? Have you ever played in a tense situation?
8. How would you react if a famous person made negative comments about your country?
9. Do you think sports can help improve relationships between countries? Why or why not?
10. What is a time when you felt motivated by something negative?
11. How do you think the players from both teams felt after the game was over?
12. Do you think the American team played better because of the crowd’s negativity? Why or why not?
13. What is a way that sports can reflect the feelings of a nation?
14. How would you feel if your country was represented poorly in the media?
15. Do you think it’s important for athletes to speak out on political issues? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. controversial
2. motivated
3. emotions
4. buzzing
5. tension
6. tariffs
7. dissatisfaction
8. hostility
9. rivalry
10. celebrated
11. intense
12. featuring
13. atmosphere
14. expressing
15. emphasizing

Meanings:
(A) Unfriendly or aggressive behavior
(B) Full of excitement or activity
(C) Acknowledged a special event with joy
(D) Very strong or extreme
(E) Given a reason to do something
(F) A feeling of nervousness or worry
(G) The mood or feeling in a place
(H) Giving special importance to something
(I) Showing thoughts or feelings through words or actions
(J) Competition or opposition between people or groups
(K) A feeling of not being happy or pleased
(L) Taxes on goods coming into a country
(M) Feelings like happiness, anger, or sadness
(N) Causing disagreement or discussion
(O) Including or showing something as a part
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What event was the ice hockey game a part of?
(a) 4 Nations Face-Off
(b) World Cup
(c) Stanley Cup
(d) Olympic Games

2. On what date did the ice hockey game take place?
(a) January 1, 2025
(b) February 16, 2025
(c) March 10, 2025
(d) December 25, 2025

3. How many fans were present at the Bell Centre during the game?
(a) 15,000
(b) 30,000
(c) 10,000
(d) Over 21,000

4. What was the final score of the game?
(a) 2-1
(b) 3-1
(c) 4-2
(d) 1-0

5. Who is the Canadian Prime Minister mentioned in the article?
(a) Justin Trudeau
(b) Stephen Harper
(c) Jagmeet Singh
(d) Chrystia Freeland

6. What was the reaction of Canadian fans during the American national anthem?
(a) Cheering
(b) Silence
(c) Booing
(d) Singing along

7. What motivated the American players to perform better during the game?
(a) Their coach’s strategy
(b) Their previous wins
(c) The negativity from the crowd
(d) The weather conditions

8. What did Trump threaten that upset many Canadians?
(a) Immigration reform
(b) Trade agreements
(c) Military action
(d) Tariffs

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The game featured multiple fights, showing the intense rivalry between the two teams.
2. Canadian fans booed the American national anthem during the game.
3. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Bieber celebrated Canada’s earlier victory against the U.S. on social media.
4. American players felt demotivated by the negative reactions from Canadian fans.
5. The match was part of the 5 Nations Face-Off tournament.
6. The American team won the game with a score of 3-1.
7. Over 21,000 fans attended the game at the Bell Centre.
8. The ice hockey game took place in Toronto on February 16, 2025.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. How did the American hockey players feel about playing in front of a hostile Canadian crowd?
2. What actions did the Canadian fans take to show their anger towards the American team?
3. What was the outcome of the game between the U.S. and Canada, and how did it affect the tournament?
4. How did Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau respond to the situation after the game?
5. What role did Donald Trump’s comments play in the atmosphere of the hockey game?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What motivated the American players to perform better during the game in Montreal?
The American players were motivated to perform better because they used the negativity from the Canadian crowd, which was angry due to Trump’s comments, as motivation to push themselves harder.

2. How did the Canadian fans show their anger towards the American team?
The Canadian fans showed their anger by booing during the American national anthem and when the players were introduced, clearly expressing their dissatisfaction with Trump’s remarks.

3. What were some of the controversial comments made by Donald Trump regarding Canada?
Donald Trump made comments suggesting that Canada could become a state of the U.S. and threatened to impose tariffs, which angered many Canadians.

4. Describe the atmosphere at the Bell Centre before the game started.
The atmosphere at the Bell Centre was filled with tension and excitement, with over 21,000 fans buzzing and three fights breaking out in the first nine seconds of the game.

5. How did the outcome of the game affect the American team’s chances in the tournament?
The American team’s victory of 3-1 against Canada allowed them to move on to the tournament final, improving their chances of winning the overall tournament.

6. What actions did Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take after the game?
After the game, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to social media to celebrate Canada’s earlier win against the U.S. and to emphasize that Canada wouldn’t let Trump’s comments affect them.

7. Why do you think the rivalry between Team USA and Team Canada is so intense?
The rivalry between Team USA and Team Canada is intense due to a long history of competition in sports, national pride, and recent political tensions, which makes the games feel even more significant.

8. What role did the fights during the game play in the overall excitement of the match?
The fights during the game added to the overall excitement by showcasing the fierce rivalry between the teams and increasing the intensity of the atmosphere, making the match more thrilling for fans.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) hockey
(2) players
(3) negativity
(4) strong
(5) Canadian
(6) showed
(7) upset
(8) recent
(9) various
(10) events
(11) anthem
(12) crowd
(13) perform
(14) social
(15) featured
(16) intense
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. controversial
Answer: (N) Causing disagreement or discussion

2. motivated
Answer: (E) Given a reason to do something

3. emotions
Answer: (M) Feelings like happiness, anger, or sadness

4. buzzing
Answer: (B) Full of excitement or activity

5. tension
Answer: (F) A feeling of nervousness or worry

6. tariffs
Answer: (L) Taxes on goods coming into a country

7. dissatisfaction
Answer: (K) A feeling of not being happy or pleased

8. hostility
Answer: (A) Unfriendly or aggressive behavior

9. rivalry
Answer: (J) Competition or opposition between people or groups

10. celebrated
Answer: (C) Acknowledged a special event with joy

11. intense
Answer: (D) Very strong or extreme

12. featuring
Answer: (O) Including or showing something as a part

13. atmosphere
Answer: (G) The mood or feeling in a place

14. expressing
Answer: (I) Showing thoughts or feelings through words or actions

15. emphasizing
Answer: (H) Giving special importance to something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What event was the ice hockey game a part of?
Answer: (a) 4 Nations Face-Off

2. On what date did the ice hockey game take place?
Answer: (b) February 16, 2025

3. How many fans were present at the Bell Centre during the game?
Answer: (d) Over 21,000

4. What was the final score of the game?
Answer: (b) 3-1

5. Who is the Canadian Prime Minister mentioned in the article?
Answer: (a) Justin Trudeau

6. What was the reaction of Canadian fans during the American national anthem?
Answer: (c) Booing

7. What motivated the American players to perform better during the game?
Answer: (c) The negativity from the crowd

8. What did Trump threaten that upset many Canadians?
Answer: (d) Tariffs
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The game featured multiple fights, showing the intense rivalry between the two teams. (Answer: True)
2. Canadian fans booed the American national anthem during the game. (Answer: True)
3. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Bieber celebrated Canada’s earlier victory against the U.S. on social media. (Answer: False)
4. American players felt demotivated by the negative reactions from Canadian fans. (Answer: False)
5. The match was part of the 5 Nations Face-Off tournament. (Answer: False)
6. The American team won the game with a score of 3-1. (Answer: True)
7. Over 21,000 fans attended the game at the Bell Centre. (Answer: True)
8. The ice hockey game took place in Toronto on February 16, 2025. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧