Connor Hellebuyck’s 41 saves and ‘Secretary of Defense’ nickname seal U.S. Olympic gold
connor hellebuyck delivered a 41-save performance that kept the United States level with Canada and forced overtime in the men’s hockey gold medal game, a victory that gave the U. S. its first Olympic hockey gold since 1980. The performance and one particularly eye-catching stick stop drew national attention and a playful nickname from U. S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Connor Hellebuyck’s 41 saves
The United States goaltender finished the match with 41 saves, repeatedly blocking high-quality chances to preserve a 1-1 score through regulation. The 32-year-old did allow a goal to Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar in the second period, a score that tied the game, but he then produced a string of stops that prevented Canada from pulling ahead. Those saves directly created the opportunity for the game to reach overtime, where Jack Hughes ultimately scored the winner past Canada netminder Jordan Binnington.
Pete Hegseth and the 'Secretary of Defense' label
U. S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth endorsed a social media nickname that called Hellebuyck the "Secretary of Defense. " Hegseth, who previously held the title now in use by his agency before it became known as the Department of War last September, shared the post with the comment, "Now we have a Secretary of War…and a Secretary of Defense!" The comment became part of broader American reaction to the U. S. victory over Canada.
Devon Toews’ shot and the stick save
One sequence that stood out came when Devon Toews had a wide-open look in front of the crease. Toews lifted the puck slightly and Hellebuyck somehow met it with his paddle, turning quickly with his right hand to stop the puck and keep the game tied in the second period. That stop—executed with only Hellebuyck’s stick—prevented a go-ahead goal at a critical moment. What makes this notable is how a single, unconventional save changed the course of the game: by denying that chance, the goaltender preserved overtime and the eventual American victory.
Key moments: Hughes, Binnington and MacKinnon
Jack Hughes supplied the decisive goal in overtime, finishing a push past Canada’s Jordan Binnington. Canada had several grade-A opportunities they could not convert, including an instance in the third period when assistant captain Nathan MacKinnon missed a wide-open net. Those missed chances, combined with Hellebuyck’s late-period stops, swung the balance toward the United States.
Milano Santagiulia and the postgame scene
The gold medal game took place on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 22, 2026. After the final horn, Hellebuyck skated alone around the ice wearing an American flag over his shoulders while the crowd roared. He told, "It’s a dream come true, " and celebrated with teammates as the U. S. claimed its first Olympic men’s hockey gold since 1980.
Jim Gray, a contributor and sportscaster, discussed the overtime victory and its significance, while Madison Scarpino covered the game in Milan. The nickname, the dramatic stick save on Devon Toews, the 41 stops and Hughes’ overtime strike formed a sequence of events that together produced the historic result.
The broader implication is that goaltending can define a championship game: Hellebuyck’s accumulation of saves, and one spectacular paddle stop at a pivotal moment, directly produced the extra period that allowed the U. S. to win gold.
