You always get a special feeling when you’re at a hockey game and the crowd joins in for the national anthem before puck drop. It’s a feeling that escalates during the playoffs, and can certainly pump up the home crowd before game time.
But something different happened tonight in Edmonton.
Before Game 3 between the Oilers and Anaheim Ducks, country music star and Alberta native Brett Kissel had an apparent mic issue and asked the crowd to “sing it together.” And did they ever.
The entire arena, all 18,000-plus of them, sang the Star Spangled Banner. All of it. Word for word.
Pure class, Edmonton. Pure class.
An incredible moment
When the mic doesn’t work, the crowd takes over & belts out The Star-Spangled Banner…
…In Edmonton
🇺🇸🇨🇦 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/pWvrlknbV6— NHL (@NHL) April 30, 2017
One of the coolest things ever seen at Sporting event, Edmonton Oilers fans sing entire U.S. National anthem word for word.
— JAY JANOWER (@DOUBLEJGLOBALBC) April 30, 2017
Donald Trump: I hate Canada, it’s the worst.
Edmonton: 18k #Oilers fans singing the American anthem in unison.
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) April 30, 2017
Oilers fans are the best. Absolutely belting out the American national anthem. Heroes, all of you. -bm #MISSION17
— OilersNation.com (@OilersNation) April 30, 2017
How nice are we Canadians? NICE ENOUGH FOR THE CROWD IN EDMONTON TO SING THE U.S. ANTHEM #oilers #StanleyCup #OrangeCrush @BrettKissel class
— Lucas Meyer (@meyer_lucas) April 30, 2017
19,000 Canadians just sang the American anthem from memory at the #Oilers game. Your move USA 🏒 🇨🇦
— Kari-Lynn (@KariLynn_87) April 30, 2017
Class act @edmontonoilers fans…US anthem singer’s mic stops working-Canadian crowd sings US anthem #nhl #oilers #nhlplayoffs #canada #usa
— Jeff Hendrick (@jeffhendrick) April 30, 2017
When a Canadian crowd sings th the American anthem #WeAreClassy #edmonton #Usa #NationalAnthem #America #Canada #yeg #Oilers #ducks #Anaheim
— Nick Yakimchuk (@nyekimchuk14) April 30, 2017
Wait, did all the fans in the Edmonton Oilers arena just sing the 🇺🇸 National Anthem?! #Respect 👏
— Dario (@DarioMouse) April 30, 2017
And they say Canadians aren’t patriotic in Edmonton we are singing the US anthem louder than in Anaheim #oilers #chills 😉
— Mike Dirsa (@DirsaMike) April 30, 2017
Oilers fans at Rogers Place, in unison, singing the American National Anthem. How cool was that? #StanleyCup
— Arda Ocal (@ArdaOcalTV) April 30, 2017
that’s a first. I’ve never heard the American anthem sung by a fanbase in Canada before… #YEG baby! #Oilers
Over to you American teams!
— McPlayoffs Baby!!! (@BeerLeagueHeroe) April 30, 2017
COULD YOU IMAGINE AMERICA TRYING TO SING THE CANADIAN ANTHEM??? way to go Edmonton. #Oilers
— Kaitlyn Bristowe (@kaitlynbristowe) April 30, 2017
Hey @EdmontonOilers fans. A resounding standing ovation for your rendition of the Star Spangled Banner 🇺🇸#Awesome #MicrophoneIssues pic.twitter.com/De2TWqWZFE
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) April 30, 2017
American anthem in Edmonton. #oilers #ducks pic.twitter.com/5tONjkCgK5
— Hockey 24|7 (@iamhockey1) April 30, 2017