Hockey unites in America for support of Canada

Sports are a big business and a large aspect of the social lifestyle. It's a gathering place for different people of different sexes of different ethnic backgrounds. What is the same is the joy and passion showed based upon a particular team's or individual's performance. As fans we care, probably too much at times. There are much more important things going on in the world, like yesterday.

In the capital city of Canada, Ottawa, a terrible shooting took place inside the National War Memorial. Two people were killed, a soldier standing guard and eventually the deadly shooter. At three others were taken to a local hospital with injuries.

Later that night, the Ottawa Senators professional hockey club was scheduled to play a few miles away in suburban Kanata. The Senators were going to host the Toronto Maple    
Leafs, their biggest and closest rival, in a National Hockey League game. The contest was postponed yesterday and rescheduled for November 6th by agreement of the NHL, the Senators, and the Maple Leafs.

Ottawa and Toronto are rival cities in the same province of Canada, Ontario. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are rival cities in the same state in America, Pennsylvania. Last night, the Pittsburgh Penguins played host to the Philadelphia Flyers. The two teams and cities have such a hatred toward each other that NBC Sports, the American NHL TV rightsholder, scheduled them on their Wednesday Night Rivalry broadcast. "Wednesday Night Rivalry" is promoted by NBC as "the night you love to hate". However, before the game, it was all about love for Canada.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4FlJi84XDQ

First, O Canada, the Canadian national anthem was played by piano organ. For games involving two American-based teams except in U.S./Canada border city Buffalo, the American anthem is only sung. Buffalo is an exception due to its close proximity to Canada and the amount of Canadian fans of the Buffalo Sabres.

Only in special events like the All-Star Game and Winter Classic do you hear "O Canada" sung by the anthem singer.

Second, it was amazing to hear the Pittsburgh crowd sing the anthem themselves. While the anthem singer Jeff Jimerson performed "O Canada", the arena crowd could clearly be heard in the background. It was touching, great to watch, and more importantly, fabulous to listen.