Pete Hegseth dubs Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck the 'Secretary of Defense' after miraculous Olympic stick save
United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth dubbed Connor Hellebuyck the "Secretary of Defense" after the 32-year-old collected 41 saves to help keep Team USA tied and ultimately win an overtime gold-medal game against Canada, securing the nation's first Olympic hockey gold since 1980. The game-winner in overtime came from Jack Hughes past Canada’s netminder Jordan Binnington.
Connor Hellebuyck's 41 saves and the stick miracle
Connor Hellebuyck made a sequence of stops that preserved a 1-1 score and forced overtime; he finished the game with 41 saves. One of the most extraordinary plays described in the context shows Hellebuyck somehow stopping a wide-open Devon Toews shot in front of his crease using only his stick, turning quickly with his right hand to stop the puck and keep the game tied. The context also notes that the Canadian Toews is a Colorado Avalanche star.
Timing of the Toews save: second period or third period?
The provided account describes the stick save as occurring in the second period and says the 1-1 score held through the end of the second period and all of the third before overtime. A photo caption in the same context, however, places a save on Devon Toews during the third period of the Men's Gold Medal match at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games; unclear in the provided context which period is correct.
Pivotal moments: Hughes winner, Binnington and missed chances
Jack Hughes ultimately scored the overtime game-winner past Jordan Binnington to give Team USA the victory. The context emphasizes Canada’s inability to capitalize on several prime chances against Hellebuyck, including assistant captain Nathan MacKinnon missing a wide-open net in the third period. Earlier in the game Hellebuyck did allow a goal to Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar in the second period, but he followed that concession with multiple crucial saves.
Pete Hegseth's reaction and the 'Secretary of Defense' label
A social media account dubbed Hellebuyck the "Secretary of Defense, " and United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth — who is described in the context as having held that title before the agency he heads became known as the Department of War last September — endorsed that designation. Hegseth commented on the post, saying, in essence, that now the country has both a Secretary of War and a Secretary of Defense. The context frames his remark as an expression of American pride after the U. S. defeat of Canada.
Voices, venue and celebration
Sportscaster Jim Gray discussed the Team USA men's hockey overtime victory against Canada, and correspondent Madison Scarpino reported on the game. The match took place at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 22, 2026, during day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games. After the win, the 32-year-old Hellebuyck was described as skating around the ice alone with an American flag on his back as the crowd roared its approval.
Hellebuyck's own take and the legacy line
After the game Hellebuyck called the result a dream come true and said the team grinded and battled, and that it was some of the best and most fun hockey he has played. The contextual headlines frame Hellebuyck’s stick save and overall performance as central to Team USA capturing its first Olympic hockey gold since 1980, and they show how that single play generated wide attention and a novel nickname endorsed by Pete Hegseth.
