The Controversy of Barrel-Gate

By Kaliya Trias, News Editor

Courtesy of TSN

Team USA won gold when they beat Team Canada in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship on on Tuesday, Jan. 5. With a 2-0 win, the U.S. team sparked controversy as they brought out a barrel with their opponent's logo taped on it during their on ice celebration.

The term “Barrel-Gate” was coined after the event left many Canadians with a distaste for the decision.

“There’s a lot of controversy around that topic and it's obvious why, but the team actually never meant it as an insult,” Kennedy senior Lewis Izadi said. “Each game of the tournament they would have a barrel with the opposing team taped on and to represent their progression as they would move barrel to barrel.”

Although the American team believed the act would be a harmless symbol of their accomplishment, the barrel’s resemblance to a trash can made many of the Canadian viewers displeased with the display.

“I don’t care if that’s a barrel or a trash can. You don’t bring that out on your team picture,” professional Canadian hockey player Zach Boychuk said.

A newsletter revealed by sports commentator Ryan Rishaug, was sent out to the team in December inspiring them to start the tradition as they defeated each team on the road to championship.

“It's a story… about crossing the heart of the Sahara Desert; crossing a terrain that’s 500 miles long," Team USA Head Coach Nate Leaman said. "The only way they could figure to cross this part of the Sahara Desert was to put barrels out so that when you got to one barrel, the only thing you could see was the next barrel in the horizon.”

The metaphor within the story was implemented into the team's celebration as it was their motivation throughout their games.

“We pretty much had a barrel for each team we were playing, and each game we just wanted to get to the next barrel and today was our last barrel,” Team USA player Trevor Zegras said.

Despite the fact that the American team did not intend to offend the Canadian team, the Barrel-Gate controversy remains as the act was seen as a symbol of their rivalry.

The U.S. head coach continues to reiterate the message of inspiration the barrel had for the team, dismissing the notion of disrespect for the opposing team.