Hockey USA: Olympic Champions Visit the White House and Receive Honors

U.S. Men’s Hockey Team Celebrated at the White House After Olympic Victory

The U.S. men’s Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team was received by then-President Donald Trump at the White House. Subsequently, during the State of the Union address, they received a bipartisan standing ovation of approximately two minutes. Trump also announced that the women’s hockey team, also gold medalists after defeating Canada, would visit the White House “soon.” The women’s team had declined an invitation to attend the State of the Union address due to the event’s scheduling. The male team players entered the House of Representatives and walked among the rows of the press gallery. Lawmakers from both parties stood and cheered, chanting “USA!” on several occasions, and even raising their fists. Representative Lisa McClain, chair of the House Republican Conference, shouted “I love you!” to the players.

“I want to thank you all,” Trump told the players. “What a special job you did. What special champions you are.”

Donald Trump

The president also announced that goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 41 shots in the gold medal game, would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Hellebuyck touched his heart as those present in the House applauded. The photos and videos shared on social media by advisors to the Trump administration showed the hockey players posing for a photograph in front of the South Portico. They walked through the colonnade of the West Wing, where Trump displays portraits of all U.S. presidents, a few steps from the Oval Office, where they were received. As they approached the Oval Office, some of the players entered the press office to display the medals they won after their victory over Canada in the Milan Cortina Olympics. This was the first gold medal in men’s hockey for the Americans since the “Miracle on Ice” in Lake Placid, New York, in 1980. The staff applauded and shouted: “We love you!”

“I recognize them all. I know each and every one of you,” Trump said as the players entered the Oval Office, which he had redecorated with numerous golden ornaments that matched the players’ medals.

Donald Trump

“Big guys,” he said, standing near his desk and shaking hands with the players, who were wearing dark jerseys with “USA”, the American flag, and the Olympic rings on the front, and light-colored pants.

Cannot display content. Please try again later.

After their victory, a video circulating on social media appeared to show Trump inviting the team by phone in the locker room, joking that he would also have to invite the women’s team. After the president announced that the women would soon receive a visit to the White House, the players of the men’s team made gestures of approval while watching from above. For forward Matthew Tkachuk, the trip to the White House was becoming a regular visit. “It’s good to see you again,” Tkachuk said to Trump, as the two-time Stanley Cup champion made his third trip to the White House in just over 12 months. For some of the approximately 20 players who made the trip, this was the first time. Tkachuk, who won those Cups with the Florida Panthers, posted photos on social media of team members celebrating on what appears to be a U.S. government plane and a group photo of them disembarking at Joint Base Andrews. The team chartered a flight to Miami from Italy on Monday, and then they dined together in Miami Beach and visited a nightclub where hundreds of fans clamored to get in. They also received a hero’s welcome at Miami International Airport.

“Our sport has just reached the biggest stage in the world of sports,” said Panthers general manager Bill Zito, assistant general manager of the Olympic team on Tuesday. “That’s wonderful. And we need to celebrate it.”

Bill Zito