NEWARK, N.J. — Tage Thompson rejoined his Buffalo Sabres teammates on the ice Wednesday morning for the first time since winning an Olympic gold medal as part of Team USA. As Thompson stepped onto the ice at the Prudential Center, Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring wrapped him in a hug.

Thompson spent three days celebrating Team USA’s win with his teammates. That celebration started in Milan, continued with a night of partying in Miami and then concluded with Thompson and 19 of his teammates visiting President Donald Trump at the White House and attending the State of the Union address. Thompson met his Sabres teammates late Tuesday night in New Jersey and was on the ice for the team’s morning skate on Wednesday. He’ll be in the lineup Wednesday night against the Devils.

“I was obviously very excited to party and hang out with the guys, but we have something very special going on here, too,” Thompson said, his voice still hoarse from the celebration. “I think that winning feeling that we just got a taste of is pretty addicting. I’d like to continue to chase that feeling and do what we set out to do at the beginning of the season with this group of guys. I’ve been with a lot of them for quite some time now. To accomplish a goal that we set out to do would be very special.”

Thompson described the last 72 hours as “a lot of fun” and a bit of a whirlwind. In the locker room postgame, FBI director Kash Patel was partying with the team and got Trump on the phone. In a three-minute phone call, Trump congratulated the team, invited them to the State of the Union and then made a joke at the expense of the USA women’s hockey team, which also won a gold medal.

”I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.” A group of players laughed while one shouted, “Absolutely!” and another yelled, “Two for two!” Trump then joked that he’d “probably be impeached” if he didn’t invite the women’s team.

“I think in the moment you’re just in the locker room celebrating and you’re just excited that there’s people that are influential in this country that want to be a part of it, that are watching you play,” Thompson said. “You know, we’re all athletes, we love the country. The fact that there are people that are high up in the country that make decisions that are watching the game and want to be a part of it and celebrate, because that’s at the end of the day what it was, a celebration of the country. I think that’s why we were so excited.”

Thompson, who wore a Make America Great Again hat during the team’s visit to the White House on Tuesday, was thrilled to get the chance to spend the day in D.C. and continue the celebration with his teammates.

“Everyone in that locker room is a patriot,” Thompson said. “We love the country. Anytime you put on that jersey, it’s the best feeling in the world presenting your country and playing for the men and women who fought and serve for your country. We get to enjoy such great lives here, and it’s because of those men and women. I couldn’t be more proud to be an American and do it with the group of guys that we had. Obviously, going to the White House is such an honor. It was a very cool experience and something that I’ll probably never get to do again.”

Of course, if the Sabres manage to win the Stanley Cup during Thompson’s career, a return visit could be in the cards. But Thompson’s experience over the last 72 hours will not likely be replicated. It also came with some backlash because of the team’s laughter at Trump’s joke about the women’s team and the team’s attendance at the State of the Union. Thompson brushed off that criticism on Wednesday.

“I think maybe when you’re at the center you might not know as much of the stuff that’s going on,” Thompson said. “You know, at the end of the day, we’re Americans, and we set out to accomplish something that was very difficult to do, and we did it. And you know, we’re obviously going to enjoy that. Like I said before, we’re very proud to represent this country. It’s a huge honor to wear those colors, and I don’t think anyone on that team’s going to shy away from any sort of criticism. Unfortunately, in today’s world, everyone has their own opinions, and I think that’s what makes this country so great is we can all have different opinions and live our lives and be different. So that’s kind of what I see there.”

Thompson had three goals and an assist in six games at the Olympics. He had a few scoring chances in the gold medal game and was a key piece of the team’s power play. Thompson is now trying to turn his focus to the Sabres, who are in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and aiming to end a league-record 14-year playoff drought. Through 57 games, Thompson has 30 goals and 29 assists. He was centering the top line at the team’s morning skate on Wednesday, but Sabres coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged he’ll need to monitor Thompson’s workload.

“We’ll just evaluate as the game goes,” Ruff said. “I understand it’s been a heck of a three days emotions-wise and everything they’ve gone through. Just watch the minutes.”