NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on Wednesday said his league is awkwardly caught in the middle of rising tensions between the U.S. and Canada, noting that a trade war — or any tariffs added on top of President Trump’s proposed 25% tax on Canadian goods — would hurt the league.

Seven of the league’s 32 teams are in Canada. About 25% of the NHL’s revenue comes from north of the border, but the league office pays its players and staff members in American dollars. 

“If the impact of the tariffs is to see the Canadian dollar drop relative to the U.S. dollar, it will make it more difficult and more painful,” Mr. Bettman said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “A lot of our Canadian clubs do quite well, but that’s going to be impacted by what happens with the Canadian dollar.”

NHL events have become a public forum for fans from both countries to express their dismay with current trade talks. Canadian fans started booing the American national anthem when Mr. Trump announced the planned tariffs, which are partly to answer Canada’s levies on U.S. goods. American fans returned the favor upon the playing of “O Canada” in the following weeks. 

“I think most of the tension isn’t addressed at either country or the people,” Mr. Bettman said. “But there’s a policy issue that’s going on, and it’s unfortunate that the two countries, the people of the two countries and our sport are caught in the middle of it.”

Those tensions came to a head during the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off last month. The rivalry between the U.S. and Canada exploded with fights during the first minute of their preliminary game. The Americans won that matchup, but the Canadians took the trophy by defeating the Americans in the final. 

• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.