This all began when the USA Hockey men’s team won the gold medal on Sunday.

During the celebration in the locker room after the game – which was AFTER the team made everyone cry by bringing out Johnny Gaudreau’s children onto the ice for a team picture – FBI Director Kash Patel (who was in there partying with the team), facilitated a phone call between the team and President Donald Trump. In that call, Trump invited the gold medal winners of both the men’s and women’s teams to the State of the Union.

And yes, the president did invite both teams on that call. Even though sports journalists have been in an absolute panty-twisted tantrum about this invitation, claiming it was a slight on the gold medal winning USA women’s team, the women gracefully declined the invite (citing prior commitments and their need to be back on their teams ASAP), but they will visit the White House at a later date. However, the USA men’s team happily took the chance to keep the party rolling.

The team got the red carpet treatment at the White House before the speech, and were clearly enjoying themselves.
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This included a visit to the Oval Office with President Trump.
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But the most amazing moment was ahead of Team USA. The team was recognized during the State of the Union (with one of the few bipartisan applause moments), but goalie Connor Hellebuyck, largely credited for keeping the United States in the game, got a special honor.

The United States men’s ice hockey team was welcomed by “U-S-A” chants as they were introduced by President Donald Trump at his 2026 State of the Union address on Feb. 24.

He congratulated the men’s team, as well as the women’s team, for capturing the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan.

Among his remarks, Trump said he will present the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor, to U.S. men’s national team goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

“I’ve never seen a goaltender play as well as goalie Connor Hellebuyck,” Trump said. “(42) shots on gold. And I asked him the one shot, the one where you put your stick in the back and it hit the neck of your stick and bounced off. You practiced that? Or was that a little lucky? He refused to answer that question.”

Hellebuyck, honored to receive the medal, was all smiles as politicians gave him and the rest of the men’s team a standing ovation.

It was a team vote, according to Trump, however he’d ensure that his vote trumped everyone else’s.

INCREDIBLE: President Trump announces he will be giving the Presidential Medal of Freedom to USA Hockey goaltender Connor Hellebuyck pic.twitter.com/btezvXKOar

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) February 25, 2026

It’s been an incredible few days for Team USA, and this extra honor is just the icing on the cake for the players. Congratulations to the team, to USA Hockey, and to Connor Hellebuyck, and for all the parents whose kids want to start playing hockey now – best of luck, and make sure you bring snacks for the practices and games.

Featured image: US Hockey team meme via wildthing on X, cropped and modified