Tech mogul Elon Musk has reportedly issued a bold warning tied to a potential partnership between Tesla and Team Canada, the national hockey squad. According to viral posts circulating on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, Musk allegedly stated that if Team Canada refuses to collaborate with Tesla—possibly for sponsorship or promotional ties during events like the IIHF World Championship—Canadian players could face restrictions on purchasing Tesla vehicles in the future.
This claim has sparked significant online buzz, with some outlets dubbing it an “IIHF BOMBSHELL.” Social media users have shared screenshots and videos amplifying the story, portraying it as a high-stakes ultimatum from the Tesla CEO. Critics have quickly labeled the alleged statement as inflammatory, unprecedented, and an overreach of corporate power into the world of sports. One viral rephrasing highlighted the backlash: “Get ready for a nationwide ban,” framing it as a direct threat to Canadian athletes.
The story appears to originate from unverified social media posts and clickbait-style articles, often linking to sites like autulu.com or similar low-credibility sources. No official confirmation has emerged from Musk’s X account, Tesla’s press releases, or Hockey Canada. Searches for related statements from Musk yield no direct matches, though he has occasionally commented on Canadian topics, including past remarks on politics and business.
Broader Context: Tesla’s Struggles in Canada
This rumored claim arrives amid heightened tensions between Tesla and Canada. Recent years have seen growing backlash against Musk due to his political affiliations, including his role as a senior advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump and perceived interference in global affairs. A petition to revoke Musk’s Canadian citizenship (he was born in South Africa but holds Canadian roots through his mother) garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures, accusing him of undermining Canadian interests.
Canada has also taken concrete actions against Tesla:
Provinces like British Columbia removed Tesla from EV rebate programs.
Cities such as Toronto excluded Tesla vehicles from incentives for taxis and limousines.
Some auto shows banned Tesla participation over security concerns amid vandalism incidents.
Polls indicate widespread Canadian support for restricting Tesla sales, with critics arguing that Musk’s influence threatens national sovereignty. Meanwhile, Tesla sales in Canada have declined, and public sentiment among owners has shifted, with some expressing embarrassment over the CEO’s actions.
Is This Real or Just Hype?
The “ban” claim seems rooted in sensationalized social media rather than verified events. Similar stories have circulated before, often exaggerating Musk’s offhand comments for clicks. Without direct evidence—like a tweet, interview, or official statement—the story remains unconfirmed and may be part of ongoing online drama.
If true, it would represent an extraordinary escalation, blending corporate leverage with national pride in hockey. For now, it highlights how quickly Musk-related rumors can ignite controversy in a country where Tesla faces mounting opposition.
Elon Musk disconnects Starlink, Russia loses a key ally on the front lines.
Billionaire Elon Musk, CEO of Starlink, shut down Russian Starlink terminals in Ukraine, causing widespread network outages.
According to Ukrainian media sources on February 5th, the new “whitelist” mechanism launched by SpaceX has cut off Russia’s “unauthorized access” to the Starlink satellite internet service along the front lines.
Just before 3 AM (Kyiv time) on February 5th, American billionaire Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, reposted a new guide issued by the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transition, concerning the registration of Starlink terminals in Ukraine.
Subsequently, a series of “alarming” claims appeared on Russian social media, indicating that Starlink terminals, supplied to the Russian Army, had experienced widespread connection losses along the front lines.
A Ukrainian Air Force (AFU) commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Kyiv Independent that they had intercepted radio communications from the Russian Armed Forces (RFAF) complaining about a large number of malfunctioning Starlink terminals.
Besklestnov, a longtime commentator on electronic warfare and recently appointed advisor to Defense Minister Fedorov, said: “The enemy on the front lines is not just facing a problem, but a catastrophe.”
Meanwhile, Russian military bloggers expressed “despair” at the news. “This is a heavier blow to our frontline offensive forces than anywhere else, such as Kupyansk,” wrote one prominent Russian propaganda channel. “We will lose all chance of contact with the outside world, what a pity.”
However, reports from the front lines differ on the impact of this change on Russian attacks. An officer from the Ukrainian 3rd Corps told the Kyiv Independent: “In the area of responsibility of my unit, it really did have an impact.”
“They have been completely cut off from the internet. This could mean that operations will be scaled back until they find an alternative means of communication,” Petro, commander of the drone unit of the 128th Mountain Brigade, operating near Zaporizhia, told the Kyiv Independent.
A 32-year-old AFU drone operator, codenamed “The Architect,” confirmed that the RFAF’s Starlink service had been disrupted, but added: “This only gives us a few more weeks to secure our rear areas before the Russians figure out a fix.”
Some Ukrainian commanders warn that despite changes in communication systems, Russian attacks have not stopped, but have only “slowed down,” the deputy battalion commander of the 38th Marine Brigade, stationed on the Myrnohrad front, told the Kyiv Independent.
“Currently, there are no significant changes; the Russians have not stopped their attacks,” said Dmitrik, chief of staff of the Azov Corps. “So far, I haven’t seen Starlink prevent them from launching any attacks,” added Artyom, an officer with the 28th Motorized Infantry Brigade, stationed in the Kostyadinivka direction.
Meanwhile, another pro-Russian military blogger pointed out: “The Starlink system across the entire front has been cut off,” but they said that the Ukrainian army is also facing a similar situation; especially with Starlink receivers that are not officially registered by Ukrainian soldiers.
The extent of this change’s impact on the Ukrainian military remains unclear. Beskrestnov wrote: “Among our soldiers, those who have not yet submitted their personal Starlink lists are facing difficulties. This process is still ongoing.”
On February 1st, Fedorov stated that Ukraine and SpaceX were employing a large-scale subscription scheme, using an application called “Diia” (a core achievement of Fedorov’s pre-war work at the Ministry of Digital Transformation), to prevent Russia from using Starlink services in Ukraine.
Starlink service has been officially blocked in Russia, but remains operational in a significant portion of the occupied territories, partly at Ukraine’s request. This satellite internet service is deeply integrated into the Ukrainian military, with frontline soldiers relying on continuous high-speed internet access.
Since the beginning of 2025, Russia has equipped some of its Geran and BM-35 long-range UAVs with Starlink terminals, allowing them to penetrate deeper into Ukrainian territory and maintain connectivity with command centers via broadband internet, better than any other technology. Russian frontline soldiers are also increasingly reliant on Elon Musk’s Starlink internet access.
