Connor Hellebuyck Called 'Secretary of Defense' by Pete Hegseth After Miracle Olympic Stick Save
connor hellebuyck turned in a 41-save performance that kept the men's Olympic gold medal game tied and forced overtime, a night that drew a viral nickname and high praise after Team USA defeated Canada to claim the nation’s first Olympic hockey gold since 1980.
Connor Hellebuyck’s stick save, 41 saves and game impact
connor hellebuyck collected 41 saves in the gold medal match, repeatedly stopping high-quality chances and preserving a 1-1 score late in regulation to send the game to overtime. One defining moment came in the second period when Devon Toews had a wide-open look in front of the crease. Hellebuyck somehow stopped the shot with only the blade of his stick, turning quickly with his right hand to keep the puck out and maintain the tie. Earlier in the second period, Hellebuyck had allowed a goal to Cale Makar, but that did not prevent him from making a string of subsequent saves that kept the U. S. within striking distance.
Pete Hegseth endorses the 'Secretary of Defense' label
United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth bestowed his old title on the American goaltender after the save. A social media account had dubbed Hellebuyck the "Secretary of Defense, " and Hegseth endorsed that designation, noting that now the country had both a Secretary of War and a Secretary of Defense. Hegseth held that title before the agency he heads became known as the Department of War last September.
How the game finished: Hughes winner and Binnington in net for Canada
The game remained deadlocked at 1-1 through the end of regulation and into the third period, when Jack Hughes ultimately scored the overtime winner past Canada’s netminder Jordan Binnington. The Americans’ overtime triumph finished 2-1, securing Olympic gold for the U. S.
Reactions from former players and opponents
Former U. S. goalie Mike Richter described the stick stop and overall performance as astonishing, noting he watched the play repeatedly on replay and emphasizing that Hellebuyck didn’t give up on the puck. Richter invoked the names of celebrated Olympic goaltenders Patrick Roy, Dominik Hasek and Jim Craig when assessing the save and praised how Hellebuyck fought for every puck. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy pegged the Toews stop as the turning point in the game, saying he yelled down the bench, "That's the one, " and joked about calling it the "TSN Turning Point, " before noting Hellebuyck went on to make a couple of other big saves. Canada forward Sam Bennett acknowledged his team generated plenty of chances but said sometimes the goalie steals it, and that was the case on this night.
Scene, schedule and legacy in Milan
The gold medal match was played in Milan as part of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, on day 16 of the tournament at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Other coverage of the event referenced the venue as Santaguilia Arena. After the final horn, the 32-year-old goaltender skated around the ice alone draped in an American flag while the crowd roared its approval. When Americans previously won Olympic gold in 1980, Jim Craig was the hero, and that earlier moment was recalled in the wake of this win; in that prior upset Craig made 36 saves in an improbable 4-3 victory on what was described as the same calendar day 46 years earlier.
What teammates and commentators said about the moment
Team members and commentators stressed how the save changed momentum. Nathan MacKinnon missed a wide-open net in the third period for Canada, and defenders and forwards alike found their chances thwarted by sustained goaltending. Hellebuyck later described the result as a dream come true, saying the group had "grinded" and "battled, " calling it some of the best and most fun hockey he had ever played. The U. S. fed off the confidence from that sequence of saves, which helped carry the team through regulation and into overtime where Hughes delivered the decisive goal.
Recent updates indicate the nickname and praise will be part of the postgame conversation as Team USA celebrates an Olympic title that ended a multi-decade drought. Details may continue to be discussed in follow-up coverage.
