It became a rallying cry, a cultural touchstone, a marketing strategy and — our favourite — often described in international media as “a hockey term” or “a Canadian phrase.”
We are, of course, referring to “Elbows Up,” Gordie Howe’s signature move to ward off opponents.
The 2025 #ElbowsUp movement may have started as a response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Canada, but it also came to symbolize the boycott of U.S. products as Trump’s tariffs launched a cross-border trade war.
