Tortorella threatened to bench any American players if they sat during the national anthem.
"If any of my players sit on the bench for the national anthem, they will sit there the rest of the game," Tortorella told ESPN's Linda Cohn on Tuesday.
Tortorella, who coaches the Columbus Blue Jackets for the NHL, is speaking from a unique place. His son is a member of the Army Rangers, and he recently spoke of the pride he takes in representing the United States as a coach in the World Cup of Hockey.
“I know these are hockey games…but I do look at it like it’s for my country,” Tortorella said, per Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.