Ranking NHL’s 3 most memorable national anthem gaffes

By Nestor Quixtan

Modified Jul 16, 2024 22:24 GMT

Singing the national anthem at an NHL game is an honor entrusted to very few artists. While some teams have local singers hired to perform before each game, at times, the NHL invites celebrities to perform at special events such as during the playoffs and All-Star Games.

But every now and then, a performer fails to deliver, leading to poor renditions that fans remember for years to come. With that in mind, here’s a look at the three most memorable national anthem gaffes at NHL games.

Ranking the NHL’s 3 worst national anthem renditions

#3: 2024 NHL All-Star Game

The Canadian country music duo known as The Reklaws was asked to perform the Canadian National Anthem at the 2024 NHL All-Star Game in Toronto. However, the rendition did not go too well for The Reklaws.

The performers’ rendition of “O Canada” was much slower than the usual version, leading fans to quickly criticize the duo’s take. While the duo has been wildly successful on the country music charts, its performance at the 2024 All-Star game will go down as one of the top national anthem gaffes.

#2: 2023 Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers

Ryan Michael James was asked to sing the American and the Canadian national anthems before a game between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Amerant Bank Arena in Florida. The performance took place in March 2023 and is remembered as one of the most memorable gaffes.

In particular, James didn’t know the words to “O Canada,” leaving him with no choice but to mumble through the words. With James seemingly unable to get through the Canadian national anthem unassisted, the fans in attendance picked up the slack.

James later told a Toronto radio station that he had been asked to do the renditions minutes before the start of the game, leaving him with no preparation time.

#1: 2023 Toronto Maple Leafs vs New York Islanders

It seems gaffes occur before Maple Leafs games. In December 2023, Broadway singer Sholanty Taylor rifled through the Canadian National Anthem. It usually takes about 1:20 minutes to sing “O Canada.” However, Taylor got through the anthem in under a minute.

Plus, Taylor missed part of the lyrics. In particular, she missed “God keep our land glorious and free.” She eventually got around to it before closing out the national anthem with a bang. Despite the hurried pace and missed lyrics, the fans at UBS Arena gave Taylor a rousing ovation.