What to know
- Fans at a Buffalo Sabres playoff game finished singing “O’ Canada” after a microphone malfunction cut off singer Cami Clune mid-performance.
- The sold-out crowd at KeyBank Center quickly picked up the anthem and completed it together, earning loud cheers at the end.
- The moment went viral, with many Canadians and Torontonians praising the gesture as a symbol of cross-border unity and sportsmanship.
- While most reactions were positive, some viewers argued the singalong was more about sports tradition than genuine national support.
People online and in Toronto are praising the actions of U.S.-based fans after they stepped in to finish singing “O’ Canada,” following a microphone malfunction at a Buffalo hockey game.
Ahead of game 5 of a NHL playoffs series, where the Buffalo Sabres faced off against the Boston Bruins, a technical difficulty led to the microphone being cut out while Buffalo singer Cami Clune performed the Canadian national anthem.
Despite the two U.S. teams facing off, Sabres’ home games have a unique tradition of playing the Canadian anthem no matter the lineup, due to Buffalo’s close proximity to the Canada-U.S. border.
The sold-out crowd at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo quickly took over the anthem after the line “our home and native land,” was cut short. They picked up the song right away, filling the stadium with the rest of the lyrics, as the microphone continued to cut in and out.
Once the song came to a close, the crowd erupted in cheers.
The moment went viral both online and offline, garnering reactions from many Canadians.
Even Clune thanked the crowd for helping her out.
One Toronto resident said it was a great thing to see.
“I thought that was really sweet,” she told Now Toronto. “…what you hear in the news, I think, isn’t representative of how everyone feels and thinks.”
Another Torontonian named Hunter agreed, saying that’s what sports is all about.
“The country’s coming together as people and as citizens,” he explained. “The countries are so intertwined… Everyone’s travelled across the border. A lot of people have people work across the border, so I think it’s great to hear people singing each other’s anthems and supporting each other.”
Many people watching from home also shared the positive sentiment.
“Now THAT is just a beautiful thing. What a memory for the fans and Canada,” one Reddit user said.
“That was honestly the best thing I’ve heard in a long time,” another Reddit user agreed.
“I teared up and I’m American. That was so cool,” a different Reddit user said.
Among the praise, many U.S. fans also declared their love for Canada.
While much of the reaction was positive, some believed the fan stepping in was not one of continuous support.
“Sports are different because people are accustomed to hearing it. I don’t think they’re doing it out of any care for the country. I think they’re doing it more for the ritual of the sports thing that they do,” one Toronto resident named Chris told Now Toronto.
He added that while sports is used for parts of the country and different countries to get along, the issues with inter-country relations lies in its politics and customs.
“I think Customs and Border Patrol is where the real questions lie, and sports… doesn’t have anything to do with economic policy or social policies or anything else that we should be more concerned with right now.”
Despite this, some fans agreed it was the right move.
“Leafs fans did it for ours a few years back, too,” one Reddit user said, referring to a Sabres game against the Toronto Maple Leafs where a similar malfunction occurred. “It’s the neighborly thing to do.”
