Connor Hellebuyck hailed as 'Secretary of Defense' after miracle stick save in Olympic final
connor hellebuyck finished with 41 saves and made a diving stick stop on Devon Toews that kept the score 1-1 in the gold medal game, a performance that prompted Pete Hegseth to dub the U. S. goaltender the "Secretary of Defense" after Team USA beat Canada in overtime to capture the nation’s first Olympic hockey gold since 1980.
Stick save on Devon Toews kept the U. S. alive
The pivotal moment came in the second period when Devon Toews #7 — the Colorado Avalanche defenseman — lifted a shot in front of the crease and Connor Hellebuyck somehow redirected the puck with only his stick, turning quickly with his right hand to stop it and preserve the 1-1 score. For the Toews stop, the puck sat up just a touch, putting Hellebuyck’s paddle directly in the play and denying what would have been a go-ahead goal.
Connor Hellebuyck's performance: 41 saves and a flag-wrapped lap
The 32-year-old Hellebuyck collected 41 saves through regulation and overtime on Feb. 22, 2026, at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. He allowed a goal from Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar in the second period but then made multiple saves after that game-tying score, giving Team USA the defensive backbone to press for a win. After the final horn, Hellebuyck skated alone around the ice with an American flag on his back as the crowd roared its approval.
Canada’s chances, MacKinnon’s miss and Hughes’s overtime winner
Canada created grade-A chances that it could not convert, including assistant captain Nathan MacKinnon missing a wide-open net in the third period. The deadlock held through the remainder of the second and all of the third, forcing overtime. Jack Hughes then scored the game-winner past Canada’s netminder Jordan Binnington to seal the gold for the United States.
Pete Hegseth dubs Hellebuyck the 'Secretary of Defense'
A social media account labeled Hellebuyck the "Secretary of Defense, " and United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth endorsed that designation. Hegseth, who held that title before the agency he heads became known as the Department of War last September, wrote: "Now we have a Secretary of War…and a Secretary of Defense!" In a separate comment, U. S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the IRS news points to "what we're doing to rebuild our military. "
Immediate reaction and a simple summation
Speaking to NBC after the game, Hellebuyck said, "It’s a dream come true. We grinded, we battled, and this was some of the best and most fun hockey that I’ve ever played. " Jim Gray and Madison Scarpino discussed the overtime victory, which secured the United States' first Olympic hockey gold since 1980.
What’s next
Unclear in the provided context what Team USA’s next scheduled public appearance or official event will be after winning gold at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026.
