Jeremy Swayman was the first of the Bruins\u2019 two American gold medalists to arrive back at practice in Brighton on Wednesday, his voice a bit raspy from a two-day celebration but his spirits still on a high from the entire Olympic experience in Italy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was with the best players in the world every single day. Away from the rink, too. We were in tight quarters in the village. And I think our decision to stay in that village is why we won, in keeping such close-knit bond,\u201d said Swayman. \u201cWe were in the dining hall together, playing cards and obviously at the rink, too. That\u2019s something that really bonded us. The experience I took from that was staying as focused as you possibly can, be a professional in everything you do and perform on the ice on the biggest stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Swayman and Charlie McAvoy arrived from Washington, DC about 3:30 am on Wednesday morning. While McAvoy, who played big minutes in every game, took his option to get some rest, Swayman wanted to get on the ice and get back to work. He played in just one game in the qualification round, a win over Denmark.<\/p>\n
Swayman stayed on the ice to get some extra work and it\u2019s not clear when he\u2019ll be available. Coach Marco Sturm will assess where both players are at after Thursday\u2019s morning skate at the Garden prior to their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets and then go from there. Swayman said he\u2019d be ready.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah. I can\u2019t wait to get back. I\u2019m excited to get started and whenever my name is called, I\u2019ll be ready to go,\u201d said Swayman.<\/p>\n
The experience at the Olympics and the aftermath was incredible, said Swayman. But there is one thing he would change, if he could.<\/p>\n
In the joyous aftermath of the game, President Trump called to give his congratulations and invite the team to the White House. The president said jokingly that he would \u201chave to bring the women\u2019s team\u201d that also won gold to the White House or \u201cI do believe I probably would be impeached.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still riding the adrenaline of the biggest win USA hockey since 1980 as well as a Corona or two, the players laughed along with the president.<\/p>\n
Some saw the joke as a backhand swipe at the women\u2019s team from the president, others saw it as a shot at his political adversaries. Despite both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams ardently supporting each other throughout the tournament, the players have taken heat for their reaction in some circles. Swayman was contrite about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, we should have reacted differently. We know that,\u201d said Swayman. \u201cWe are so excited for the women\u2019s team, we have so much respect for the women\u2019s team and to share that gold medal is something we\u2019re forever grateful for. Now that we\u2019re home, we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support that we have from the USA in sharing this incredible gold medal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many on the men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams have known each other for a long time.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlenty of us have crossed paths with them, whether it was in college and the professional league, too,\u201d he said. \u201cWe were so excited for them to get it done first. Seeing them in the dining hall and sharing the victories together is something we\u2019ll cherish forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
While that controversy may have caused the politically-obsessed to view the men\u2019s gold medal differently, Swayman was still very much walking on air.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incredible,\u201d said Swayman. \u201cIt\u2019s starting to sink in now, the reaction from the people in the US as soon as we landed down (in Miami) and just the outreach of the families. It\u2019s a childhood dream come true and the guys we did it with, especially, and the way we did it. It\u2019s an unbelievable feeling that we\u2019ll cherish forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team has been on a whirlwind since the win on Sunday, first ripping it in Milan, then jetting to Miami (the team were re-routed from New York because of the blizzard), where they continued the party before jetting up to Washington, DC for the White House visit and an appearance at the State of the Union address.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was an incredible honor,\u201d he said of the time in the capital. \u201cWe were there to represent our country, celebrate a gold medal for the United States and that was something we really embodied and we\u2019re really grateful to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n
Swayman raved about the performance his Bruin teammate McAvoy, he came up with a key block that saved a goal in the gold medal game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat man is the most deserving on that team with all the adversity that he\u2019s been through and just refusing to get knocked down,\u201d said Swayman, referring to the major shoulder surgery and broken jaw the defenseman has endured over the last year. \u201cHe was a leader for us and obviously his play spoke for itself. There were tears coming down because I was just so proud of him and his accomplishments and how he handled himself and got that win. He was a huge factor for us in the championship game. I get to see it firsthand, more than most of the guys on that team, what he does for this team, his family and this community. I couldn\u2019t be more excited to share this medal with him forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
And, of course, there was Connor Hellebuyck, whose 41-save performance was so clutch in the gold medal game that Trump announced he\u2019d be getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the reason why we\u2019re here. He\u2019s the reason why we\u2019re champions,\u201d said Swayman. \u201cIt\u2019s so special to share that bond with him and the three goalies (along with Jake Oettinger) that we had there. It\u2019s really a treat to share these moments. And the way that we played, that spoke for itself. So incredibly grateful that he stepped up for us and we get to celebrate that performance forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
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