I gotta disagree with that. At least in my experience. I attended all the USA games in Edmonton last year during the World Juniors - and the disdain for the Americans was actually disgusting. Like I mean literally people hate the US. They dislike Russia too but anyone the US played, they were the home team and the Americans were booed. People's favorite teams were 1.Canada 2.Anyone but the USA.
I'm Canadian but I support the US in hockey. Just the way the cookie crumbled (I'm a Stars fan), my all time favorite player is American and most my fave players down the list are as well: Jon Casey, Neal Broten, Derian Hatcher, Brett Hull, Jack Campbell. I use to cheer for my own country but at the same time I would wish the Americans well. That wasn't good enough. I was suppose to hate the Americans. The backlash I received at the very mention of any type of like for the USA was ridiculous. And I can't tell you how many times I've been called a traitor just for wearing a Stars' Modano jersey. "You f***in American! Go home you traitor!" Etc etc. I've heard it all. Disgusting. I had love for both, but because of my own people I've kinda swayed more to one side. Shouldn't be that way but it is. Call me what you wish.
I know there's idiots on both sides, but I just go by my own experiences.