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.
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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.”
The majority of the men’s team roster was in attendance at Trump’s address.
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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.
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See USA and Canada clash as Olympic rivalry continues
Jack Eichel #9 of Team United States and Nathan MacKinnon #29 of Team Canada face off in the first period during the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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See USA and Canada clash as Olympic rivalry continues
Jack Eichel #9 of Team United States and Nathan MacKinnon #29 of Team Canada face off in the first period during the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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See USA and Canada clash as Olympic rivalry continues
Jack Eichel #9 of Team United States and Nathan MacKinnon #29 of Team Canada face off in the first period during the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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See USA and Canada clash as Olympic rivalry continues
Fans of Team United States hold up signs prior to the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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See USA and Canada clash as Olympic rivalry continues
Connor Hellebuyck #37 of Team United States and Jordan Binnington #50 of Team Canada are seen during the warm up prior to the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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See USA and Canada clash as Olympic rivalry continues
Players of Team United States and Team Canada warm up prior to the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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See USA and Canada clash as Olympic rivalry continues
Players of Team United States and Team Canada warm up prior to the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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See USA and Canada clash as Olympic rivalry continues
Fans of Team Canada look on prior to the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
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See USA and Canada clash as Olympic rivalry continues
Auston Matthews of the United States greets fans before playing against Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
USA TODAY Sports: What did President Trump say about US men’s hockey team at State of the Union?
How did Team USA ice hockey do at 2026 Winter Olympic Games?
Both the U.S. men’s and women’s national ice hockey teams defeated Canada in overtime, 2-1, to win the gold medal.
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“They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as everybody saw, as did the American women, who will soon be coming to the White House,” Trump said during his State of the Union address. “We’re in the Oval Office before, and I just want to say a second, very big congratulations to Team USA.”
Who is Connor Hellebuyck?
Hellebuyck is a 32-year-old Michigan native. He is a goaltender for the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL.
He was selected by the Jets in the fifth round, 130th overall, of the 2012 NHL entry draft. Hellebuyck went to play college hockey at UMass Lowell, before playing for the St. John’s IceCaps, an affiliate of the Jets’ in the American Hockey League, the primary development league for the NHL.
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Hellebuyck has played in Winnipeg since then, winning three Vezina Trophies and the NHL MVP award.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Connor Hellebuyck Presidential Medal of Freedom: Trump awarding goalie