When she is off the court, Jessica Pegula’s heart always belongs to her hometown of Buffalo. As the heiress to a massive sports empire, she maintains a lifelong connection to her local teams. Recently, when a heartwarming moment happened before the Sabres’ NHL playoff game at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, Pegula was quick to celebrate, paying her respect to the fans and the team’s unique traditions.
Jessica Pegula Credits Buffalo’s Dual-National Anthem Tradition After Mic Issue’s Epic Save
The Sabres honor a very special, mandatory pregame tradition: both the American national anthem and the Canadian national anthem, “O Canada” will be sung before the match. Because the city of Buffalo sits just a bridge away from the Canadian border, the team naturally draws a massive Canadian fanbase. It’s a sign of respect, regardless of whether a Canadian team is in the building.
During the NHL pregame ceremonies of Game 5 against the Boston Bruins, singer Cami Clune took to the ice and began singing “O Canada.” Just a few lines into the song, her microphone completely cut out due to a technical glitch.
It was awkward, but not a silent arena. The Buffalo fans stepped up, proudly belting out the rest of the Canadian anthem. While the Sabres ultimately lost 2-1 in overtime after Boston’s David Pastrnak scored the game-winning goal, the anthem moment drew praise from sports fans everywhere.
Pegula, loving what she saw from the Buffalo faithful, reposted the video on X, with a caption, “and this is the sole reason I know the Canadian national anthem by heart.”
and this is the sole reason I know the Canadian national anthem by 🫶🏼 pic.twitter.com/LFR5HRaIZo
— Jessie Pegula (@JPegula) April 29, 2026
This is not the first time the world No. 5 has posted as a true Buffalo fan, as her family has a deep-rooted connection to Buffalo’s sports landscape. In 2011, her billionaire parents, Terry and Kim Pegula, purchased the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. In 2014, they expanded their legacy by acquiring the NFL’s Buffalo Bills for $1.4 billion. Today, Terry and Kim Pegula also own the National Lacrosse League’s (NLL) Buffalo Bandits and Rochester Knighthawks, as well as the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Rochester Americans.
She travels all around the world to play tennis, but frequently discusses Buffalo sports on social media and even during her press conferences.
Meanwhile, Pegula’s Madrid Open run came to an end last Sunday in the Round of 32, as she was defeated in straight sets by Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, falling 1-6, 4-6. Next up, she will be back for the upcoming Italian Open, which runs from May 5 to May 17, 2026, at the Foro Italico, Rome.
