While many Canadians are furious about the tariffs imposed on their country by U.S. President Donald Trump, Vancouver Canucks play-by-play announcer John Shorthouse couldn’t resist joking about the issue during Sunday’s game. Several American sports teams were among the first to feel the effects of these new U.S. tariffs in unexpected ways, as Canadian fans booed the U.S. national anthem before multiple sporting events over the weekend, including during the Detroit Red Wings’ matchup with the Canucks at Rogers Arena.
U.S. anthem booed at Rogers Arena Sunday before Red Wings-Canucks game. pic.twitter.com/4CxrCZY7Xy
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) February 3, 2025
Yet Shorthouse managed to inject some humor into the situation. Late in the first period, when Canucks defenseman Derek Forbort received a two-minute penalty for interference, Shorthouse cleverly remarked during the Sportsnet broadcast, “This will actually be a two-and-a-half-minute power play for the Detroit Red Wings, due to the 25% tariff that has been imposed on penalties to Canadian-based teams.”
We’re all still figuring out the far-reaching impacts of the tariffs.
“This will actually be a two and half minute power play for the Detroit Red Wings, due to the 25% tariff that has been imposed on penalties to Canadian-based teams…” – John Shorthouse pic.twitter.com/1M4VmCyK0l— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 3, 2025
The Red Wings ultimately defeated the Canucks 3-2 in overtime, with no tariffs imposed on that final score. Shorthouse has been calling Canucks games since 1998.
