Auston Matthews, Team USA go after 'Canadian tears' in new Olympics ad
A new ad for the upcoming Winter Olympics from NBC is throwing some serious shade on Team Canada.
In the 30-second spot, called “The Speech,” actor John Hamm is giving a pep talk to hockey’s Team U.S.A. in their locker room. “It’s an honour to speak to you all before you head off to the Olympics,” he says. “You’re going to Milan to bring home the biggest prize of all.”
“Canadian tears,” Jack Eichel responds, which takes Hamm back a step.
“Exactly! Wait, what? What did Canada do?”
“Stuff,” says team member Brady Tkachuk, an Arizona native who plays for the Ottawa Senators during the NHL season.
Jon Hamm wasn't prepared for what USA Hockey calls the biggest prize of all. ????
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) December 8, 2025
The #WinterOlympics begin February 6 on NBC and Peacock! pic.twitter.com/wQp5oqs1Tt
What follows is a conversation, intercut with clips of skirmishes and roughhousing during the first game between Canada and the U.S. at the 4 Nations Face-Off, which took place Feb. 15 in front of a sold-out crowd at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Canada beat the Americans 3-1 in that game, and won the tournament after defeating the United States 3–2 in overtime in the final.
Hamm’s character, perhaps not remembering the fight between Tkachuk and Canadian forward Sam Bennett, counters: “But they’re usually so polite!”
“Not anymore,” says Charlie McAvoy.
“Really?”
“No,” says Auston Matthews, who was born in California but currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“Are we sure we can’t just hug it out?” Hamm wants to know. The remark gets a round of laughter, after which Hamm concludes: “No. Go get ’em, boys.”
Hamm has thrown his star power behind Canada in the past, appearing in a series of ads for Canadian food delivery service SkipTheDishes. During the pandemic he delivered a “thanks Canada” video in which he noted: “Obviously I’m not Canadian but it’s times like this that I really wish I was.”
He goes on to deliver a monologue on some of his favourite places in Canada, while of course mentioning the food delivery sponsor. But when it comes to hockey rivalry between the two nations, the gloves are off.
The Winter Games start Feb. 6 in Milan. Men’s preliminary rounds begin Feb. 11.
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