BUFFALO, NY – Most teams have a cheering section. The Buffalo Sabers have a chorus.
A big one.
The Sabres, in the NHL playoffs for the first time in 14 years, were ready to take on the Boston Bruins for Game 5 of their first-round series on Tuesday at KeyBank Center. But when Buffalo native Cami Clune began singing Canada’s national anthem, her microphone stopped working.
No problem. Sabers fans, accustomed to hearing “O, Canada” before home games, chimed in and accompanied the lyrics with a rousing version of the song, The New York Times reported.
“What a night. Really grateful for this city,” Clune tweeted, using a heart emoji. “Buffalo always shows up.”
Buffalo is the only NHL team to play both national anthems before home games, regardless of opponent, The Canadian Press reported. According to the news outlet, it’s a tradition that stems from Buffalo’s proximity to the Canadian border and a strong fan base north of the border.
Clune, who appeared as a contestant on 15 episodes of “The Voice” Season 19 in 2020 – she reached the Live Top 9 – was still in awe after the game.
“Honestly, it was such a cool moment because it just showed what a great fan base we have that they got involved,” Clune told WKBW. “You know, we’re the city of good neighbors, and this is just proof of that. This just exploded.”
“And I’m overwhelmed, but in a good way.”
The lighthearted moment was a departure from recent tensions between the U.S. and Canada over tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump and his threats against Canada’s sovereignty, the Times reported.
Despite the goodwill shown on Tuesday, the Sabers lost 2-1 to Boston in overtime. Still, Buffalo leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 and will look to advance when the two teams meet again in Game 6, which will be played in Boston.
The loss didn’t dampen the civic pride of the fans’ “O, Canada” moment.
“Before the game we had a really cool moment when Cami Clune led us all in a moment of bonding with our Canadian brothers,” Joe Thomas, whose band Mayday Buffalo also performed at the game, wrote on social media.
“I know how (Canadians) bottled Niagara Falls water and sold it on Clifton Hill (at Niagara Falls),” Fort Erie resident Linda Arcand told WBKW. “It’s a shame they couldn’t suppress this atmosphere.”
© 2026 Cox Media Group