Stranger Things Star Noah Schnapp Cheers for Canada as USA Wins Olympic Hockey Gold

Fans blame Schnapp's support for Canada as a 'jinx' that led to Team USA's victory.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Photos of Stranger Things actor Noah Schnapp cheering for Canada alongside his father during the intense Olympic men's hockey gold medal game between the USA and Canada quickly went viral. Some fans blamed Schnapp's support for the Canadian team as a 'jinx' that led to Team USA's 2-1 overtime victory, their first Olympic gold in the event in decades.

Why it matters

The USA-Canada hockey rivalry is one of the most intense in international sports, and the Olympic gold medal game between the two teams is always a highly anticipated event. Schnapp's presence cheering for the 'wrong' team sparked a social media frenzy, with many fans superstitious enough to believe his support played a role in Canada's defeat.

The details

Photos of Noah Schnapp, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, wearing a Team Canada jersey while watching the game alongside his father quickly spread online. Many fans immediately blamed Schnapp's presence as a 'jinx' that led to Canada's loss, with some noting that he 'made millions off of the American people' yet was rooting against Team USA. However, Schnapp has previously expressed a strong connection to Canada, calling himself a 'true-to-heart Habs fan' whose 'whole family' lives in Montreal.

  • The Olympic men's hockey gold medal game between the USA and Canada took place on February 22, 2026.

The players

Noah Schnapp

A 21-year-old American actor best known for his role in the Netflix series Stranger Things, who also holds Canadian citizenship and has strong ties to the city of Montreal.

Team USA

The United States men's national ice hockey team, which won the Olympic gold medal in a 2-1 overtime victory against Canada.

Team Canada

The Canadian men's national ice hockey team, which lost the Olympic gold medal game to the United States in overtime.

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The takeaway

This incident highlights the intense emotions and superstitions surrounding the USA-Canada hockey rivalry, where even a celebrity's choice of team allegiance can spark a social media frenzy. It also underscores the complex national identities of some public figures, like Schnapp, who have ties to multiple countries.