Pete Hegseth dubs Connor Hellebuyck 'Secretary of Defense' after 41-save gold-medal performance
connor hellebuyck turned in a 41-save outing and a now-iconic stick save in the second period that kept the Olympic gold-medal game level and helped Team USA earn a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada. The performance drew national attention and public praise, and the 32-year-old finished the game skating with an American flag as the crowd roared.
Connor Hellebuyck's stick save on Devon Toews
Early in the second period, Canada defenseman Devon Toews crept into the slot a few feet from the net with what appeared to be an open cage. Hellebuyck, facing the corner where the puck had come from, reached behind himself and struck the puck with the blade of his stick, turning quickly with his right hand to stop it and preserve the 1-1 score. On that play, Toews lifted the puck slightly and Hellebuyck’s paddle got in the way, preventing what otherwise seemed to be a sure goal.
Pete Hegseth and the 'Secretary of Defense' label
A social media account labeled the goaltender the "Secretary of Defense, " and United States official Pete Hegseth — who had previously held the title Secretary of War before the agency became known as the Department of War last September — endorsed that designation. Hegseth highlighted the parallel by saying, "Now we have a Secretary of War…and a Secretary of Defense!" He also bestowed his old title on the American goaltender in commentary after watching the game.
Mike Richter and teammate reactions to the performance
Former U. S. goalie Mike Richter called Hellebuyck’s night "beyond belief, " saying he watched the stick save "like 10 times on replay" and that the defining trait was Hellebuyck’s refusal to give up on the puck. Richter invoked Olympic greats — Patrick Roy, Dominik Hasek and Jim Craig — while assessing the save and praised Hellebuyck’s positioning and will. Richter also referenced his own career highlight of winning consecutive 5-2 games against Canada in 1996 when reflecting on the significance of the moment.
Defenseman Charlie McAvoy said he recognized the Toews stop in real time, yelling down the bench, "That's the one, " and even joking it was the "TSN Turning Point. " McAvoy added that Hellebuyck went on to make "a couple of others. " Canada forward Sam Bennett acknowledged the impact, saying the visitors had many looks but sometimes "the goalie steals it, " and that Hellebuyck "did a great job. "
Game sequence: Cale Makar, Jack Hughes and missed Canadian chances
Team Canada opened the scoring in the second period when Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar converted, but Hellebuyck answered with a string of saves after that goal to keep the Americans alive. The score was 1-1 at the end of the second and held through the third, despite Canada failing to capitalize on several grade-A chances — including an instance when assistant captain Nathan MacKinnon missed a wide-open net in the third period.
Jack Hughes ultimately supplied the game-winner in overtime, beating Canadian netminder Jordan Binnington to complete a 2-1 victory and secure the United States' first Olympic men's hockey gold since 1980.
Aftermath and Hellebuyck's own words
connor hellebuyck described the result as "a dream come true, " saying the team "grinded, we battled, and this was some of the best and most fun hockey that I’ve ever played. " The goaltender skated alone after the final horn with an American flag draped over his back as the arena erupted.
The match was played at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, staged at Santaguilia Arena — also referenced in coverage as the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena — on day 16 of the tournament in Milan, Italy on Feb. 22, 2026.
The sequence of a 41-save night, a jaw-dropping stick stop on Devon Toews and an overtime winner from Jack Hughes combined to produce a performance that teammates, former players and public figures immediately framed as decisive. What makes this notable is the way Hellebuyck’s single improbable intervention shifted momentum and forced overtime, directly creating the conditions for the United States to capture gold.
