Wealth of context, steep with emotion: two fans lifted a Greenland flag as the United States faced Denmark in a men’s ice hockey clash at the Winter Olympics, signaling a gesture of European solidarity for the island and for Denmark. Vita Kalniņa and Alexander Kalniņš, fans of Latvia’s hockey squad living in Germany, waved a large Greenland flag during warmups and again when Denmark opened the scoring at the Milano Sant’Angelo Arena.
“We are Europeans, and as Europeans we must stand together,” Kalniņš told the Associated Press. “Greenland decides its own path, but for now Greenland is part of the Danish kingdom, and as Greenland is attached to Denmark in this instance, we support both countries against the US.”
Other spectators from the US and Denmark who watched the game—which the Americans won 6-3—felt that sport can transcend political tensions between governments over Greenland.
Recent weeks have seen Denmark stirred by Donald Trump’s rhetoric about Greenland, which has rekindled national pride there. The Greenlandic red-and-white flag, Erfalasorput, is not officially used at the Olympics since the IOC recognizes only independent sovereign states, whereas Greenland remains an autonomous territory within Denmark.
Throughout the Milano Cortina Games, supporters have waved Greenland’s flag in various venues. It has appeared in Anterselva as well, where Greenland’s two Olympic biathletes competed in the Games.
For the players, the Greenland flag wasn’t a direct motivator. The arena echoed with chants of U-S-A! U-S-A!, yet the geopolitics largely stayed off the ice, and several Danish players last week minimized any link between Greenland and the matchup against the US.
The game, however, presented Denmark with a surge of national sentiment as significant underdogs. Danish forward Nick Olesen opened the scoring after Zach Werenski accidentally redirected the puck into his own net. Two minutes later, Matt Boldy tied it for the Americans.
Eleven minutes in, Danish forward Nicholas B Jensen fired from 95 feet—just inside the center red line—beating US goalie Jeremy Swayman to put Denmark up 2-1.
Swayman wasn’t dwelling on the error for long. The US surged ahead in the second period with goals from Brady Tkachuk and Jack Eichel, generating a lead that was extended by Noah Hanifin’s shot past Mads Sogaard.
Jake Guentzel struck a one-timer with a touch more than 12 minutes left in the third, and Brady Tkachuk netted his second after a setup from Jack Hughes, following Sogaard’s departure due to injury and his replacement by Frederik Dichow.
Captain Auston Matthews assisted on Guentzel’s tally, while Werenski added a secondary assist as the US sought some vindication.
Entering the final day of the preliminary round, the US had six points—level with Canada after routing Latvia 5-1 on Thursday. Their schedule closes with a round-robin clash against Germany, while Canada faces 0-2-0 France. If both win in regulation, the race for the top seed in the knockout stage will hinge on goal differential.
