The stakes were further raised amid ongoing political tensions between the U.S. and Canada. In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has promoted the idea that the U.S. will absorb Canada as the “51st state” and called for hockey legend Wayne Gretzky to serve as the Canadian premier. Trump has threatened wide-ranging tariffs on the country and said he would exert “economic force” on the nation in an effort to take over the U.S.’s northern neighbor.

That backdrop has led to the booing…