Canada Defeats US in Hockey Game Filled with Political Tension

Lesson made on February 21, 2025

Download Printable Lesson (PDF)

Download Printable Answer Key (PDF)

Reading Lesson:

Canada and the US played the final game in an international hockey tournament in Boston, and Canada won. Connor McDavid, the best hockey player in the world, scored the winning goal, securing victory for his team. The rivalry between these two hockey teams is always intense, but this match had extra drama due to rising political tensions.

President Donald Trump has been making comments about wanting Canada to become the 51st state, and this angers many Canadians. Before the game, he posted on social media, suggesting that Canada would become part of the US. Canadian fans see his words as a threat to their country’s independence. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded after the win, saying, “You can’t take our country – and you can’t take our game.”

The political tension was also visible in the crowd. The American national anthem has been booed at Canadian sporting events in recent weeks, but this time US fans did the same to Canada’s anthem. The singer of the Canadian national anthem changed some of the words to protest Trump’s statements.

The game itself was intense and physical. The first time these two teams met in the tournament, there were three fights within the first nine seconds! The final game was just as competitive, showing that hockey is not just a sport but a battle of pride between the two nations. For Canada, hockey is more than a game—it is part of the national identity. Canada’s victory was not just a win in hockey, but also a reminder of Canada’s independence and resilience.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Where is Connor McDavid from?

a) USA
b) Canada
c) Boston
d) Finland

2. Why was this hockey game more intense than usual?

a) The players decided not to wear helmets.
b) The players wanted to impress the fans.
c) Political tensions between the two countries made the game more meaningful.
d) It was the first time Canada and the US had played hockey together.

3. Why did Canadian fans feel upset before the game?

a) The American team refused to play against Canada.
b) The American team played unfairly in previous games.
c) Trump suggested that Canada could become part of the US.
d) The game was held in the US instead of Canada.

4. Why did the Canadian Prime Minister say, “You can’t take our country – and you can’t take our game”?

a) He was joking about Canada’s hockey skills.
b) He was announcing that Canada would stop playing hockey.
c) He was showing Canada’s independence and love for hockey.
d) He was asking Trump to create a new hockey league.

5. Why did US fans boo the Canadian national anthem?

a) They were sad because they didn’t understand the rules of hockey.
b) They did not know the words to the Canadian national anthem.
c) They thought the hockey arena was too cold.
d) They were responding to how Canadian fans had treated their anthem.

6. Why does the article mention that there were many fights in an earlier game?

a) To explain why the final game was expected to be intense.
b) To show that hockey is always violent.
c) To suggest that fighting is not allowed in hockey.
d) To prove that Canada and the US have the best players.

7. What effect did Trump’s comments have?

a) They made the rivalry between the two teams stronger.
b) They made the game less competitive.
c) They had no impact on the players or fans.
d) They caused the game to be canceled.

8. How do Canada and the US view their hockey rivalry?

a) It is friendly and not taken seriously.
b) It is competitive and deeply connected to national pride.
c) Only Canadians care about the rivalry.
d) The US always wins, so the rivalry is one-sided.

9. Which of these statements is false?

a) Canada won the final hockey game.
b) US fans booed the Canadian national anthem.
c) Trump congratulated Canada on winning the game.
d) The Canadian Prime Minister responded to Trump’s comments after the game.

10. What is the main idea of the article?

a) Canada and the US are planning to join together to become one country.
b) A hockey game between Canada and the US had political significance.
c) Connor McDavid is the greatest hockey player in the world.
d) Hockey is a popular sport played in many countries.

Speaking and Writing Prompts:

– Discuss these questions with a partner or a small group.

– Choose one topic and write a response to it. Show your writing to a classmate or teacher.

1. What are some other famous sports rivalries in the world?

2. Do you think politics and sports should be separate, or is it impossible to keep them apart?

3. What is something you are very competitive about? How do you feel when you win or lose?

More Reading Practice:

Hockey

Hockey is a fun and exciting game played on ice, where two teams try to score goals by hitting a small rubber puck into the other team’s net. Each team has six players on the ice: three forwards, two defensemen, and one goalie. The forwards try to score, the defensemen protect their goal, and the goalie stops the puck from going in.

Players use sticks to control the puck and pass it to their teammates. They can skate fast, change direction quickly, and even smash into opponents to gain control of the puck. However, players must follow certain rules. They can’t trip or hit others with their sticks. If they break a rule, they might get a penalty and have to sit in the penalty box, giving the other team a chance to play with one extra player.

The game is divided into three periods, each lasting 20 minutes. The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins. If the score is tied, the game can go into overtime, where teams play until someone scores. Hockey is not just about speed and skill; it also requires teamwork and strategy to outsmart the other team and win.

Tarrifs on Canadian Imports to the US

US President Donald Trump has been in the news because he is threatening to put taxes called tariffs on goods coming from Canada. He announced that he wants a 25% tariff on everything that comes into the US from Canada and Mexico. These tariffs were supposed to start on January 20, but they have been delayed for at least 30 days because Canada promised to help improve border security. Many people think Trump is using these tariffs as a way to negotiate for better trade deals for the US. This news has made many Canadians worried and upset, as they feel uncertain about the future of trade between the US and Canada.

ESL Lesson about new Canadian PM Mark Carney

ESL Lesson about Canada’s Consumer Debt Problem

ESL Lesson about Famous Soccer Player Lionel Messi