The start to the 2013 Memorial Cup on Saturday was a rocky one. The US National Anthem prior to the Portland Winterhawks-Halifax Mooseheads game was an unmitigated disaster. If it weren’t for the fans helping her along, I don’t think she would have ever finished it. You know you’re doing a horrible job when you can see players starting to laugh at you and you are making up verses to an anthem.
The singer Alexis Normand apologized afterwards, but her performance will live on through YouTube forever.
I'm embarrassed and deeply sorry. I wish I'd had more time to learn the American anthem. Thanks so much for the crowd's help! #memorialcup
— Alexis Normand (@Alex6Normand) May 19, 2013
The Memorial Cup is hosted by the Saskatoon Blades (WHL) this year, and features the Portland Winterhawks (WHL Champs), Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL Champs) and the London Knights (OHL Champs). Each year one team from the three leagues hosts the league champions and the four teams get together to play a tournament to crown the one champion of the CHL.
[YouTube]
