President Donald Trump was not able to take up Team USA GM Bill Guerin’s invitation to attend Thursday’s 4 Nations Faceoff championship game at the Garden, but he didn’t leave the Americans hanging.
With the team gathered in the Bruins’ usual digs doubling as the Team USA locker room prior to Thursday’s morning skate, Trump called in on Guerin’s cell phone to give the team a pep talk.
“That was amazing,” said Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman. “Really special for him to take timeout from his busy schedule and talk to us. I thought that was a really classy move by him and it obviously means a lot. It’s more than a hockey game it feels like and, again, for him to call in and take some time for us is really meaningful.”
The message?
“He was just really proud of us and the accomplishment that we’ve had and best of luck tonight and he’s got no doubt in us,” said Swayman. “That was a really cool thing to hear, just having the confidence of our leader and we have a job to do.”
Coach Mike Sullivan called it “a distinct honor.”
“I think, politics aside, when the President of the United States takes the time to speak to our players, it’s an incredible honor,” said Sullivan, a Marshfield native. “I think it’s an indication once again, of the impact this tournament as had on the people of the United States. People are paying attention. I think that’s a credit to all the players that have been involved and their commitment to excellence and how competitive these games have been. But it was an incredible honor. I know we have a locker room full of proud Americans and when the President of the United States takes his time out of his busy schedule to say a few words to our guys, I know it meant a lot to every one of us.”
Norwood’s Noah Hanifin detailed some of Trump’s address to the team.
“He pretty much spoke for about five minute, just wishing us good luck and that he’s had the opportunity to meet a few players who’ve won the Cup in the White House and he’s become a big hockey fan. He talked about golf a little bit, but it was cool getting the call,” said Hanifan. “Hopefully we can get the tonight for out country and for Trump. It’ll be a lot of fun.”
Meanwhile, Canadian coach Jon Cooper was expecting a lot more Canadians in the Garden crowd than there were Americans in the Bell Centre crowd last Saturday for the USA’s 3-1 victory.
Some of them have come a long way. Canada forward Seth Jarvis relayed the story that some of his buddies from Winnipeg had their flight to Boston canceled, so they drove 30 hours to get here for the game.
For Cooper, that just about sums it up.
“Proud to be a Canadian and proud to be of the same heritage of those guys who’ve come down because we have the same passion. It shows how much tis port and these players, how much it means to them,” beamed Cooper, adding with a smile, “It’s a one thing to do it in June, but February? That’s a tough one.”