Us Mens Hockey Controversy Grows as Women's Team Declines State of the Union Invite

The us mens hockey controversy took another turn when the U. S. women's hockey team said it would decline President Donald Trump's invitation to the State of the Union, citing timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games.

Women's team declines, cites commitments after beating Canada

A USA Hockey spokesperson said, "We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U. S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement. Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. " The spokesperson added, "They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment. " The U. S. women's team beat Canada for the gold medal in Thursday's Olympic women's hockey final and won gold for the third time since the Olympics added the women's competition in 1998.

The locker-room call and the joke that sparked criticism

The sequence began after the U. S. men's team beat Canada 2-1 on Sunday, winning gold on Jack Hughes' overtime goal — the country's first Olympic men's hockey gold since 1980. In the locker room in Milan, FBI director Kash Patel was a guest and held the phone while President Donald Trump invited the men's team to the State of the Union after their overtime victory. On the call Trump said, "I must tell you, we're going to have to bring the women's team, you do know that, " and added jokingly, "I do believe I probably would be impeached. " Players laughed on the call; the video went viral and drew harsh criticism.

Hughes brothers respond amid backlash

Jack Hughes, a center for the New Jersey Devils, addressed the backlash outside E11even Miami, where the team celebrated its victory Monday: "Everyone is giving us backlash for all the social media stuff today. People are so negative out there, and they are just trying to find a reason to put people down and make something out of almost nothing. " He described close ties with the women's team during the Olympics: "After we won the gold medal, we were in the cafeteria at 3: 30 a. m. in the morning with them. We go from there, pack our bags and we're on the bus. " Quinn Hughes, a defenseman for the Minnesota Wild, said on Good Morning America that the men's gold medalists will attend the State of the Union: "I don't know how much I'm allowed to say, but yes. We're excited to go. It's not something you get to do every Tuesday. It's going to be special for us. " Jack also said the men's team is eager for the opportunity to visit the White House after its victory.

Us Mens Hockey Controversy: criticism, praise and off-ice fallout

The us mens hockey controversy has drawn a mix of reactions. Some felt Trump's phrasing suggested he would invite the women's team begrudgingly, and some felt the men's response was disrespectful to a women's team that produced a dominant run to gold. P. K. Subban is full of praise for Team USA men's hockey after it defeated Canada to win the gold medal (2: 07). Quinn Hughes' mother, Ellen Hughes, who represented Team USA hockey and played at the 1992 Women's World Championship with the national team, said both teams were all about "unity" during the Games: "These players, both the men and women, can bring so much unity to a group and to a country. People that cheered on that don’t watch hockey, people that have politics on one side or on the other side, and that’s all both the men’s team and the women’s team care about. "

Questions remain about attendance and scheduling

FBI director Kash Patel, who called Trump from the locker room, came under fire for flying to Italy and partying with the men's team following the victory. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump's State of the Union will take place Tuesday night, but it is unclear how many players will attend: many players are set to return to their NHL teams Tuesday, with league play resuming Wednesday after the Olympic break, which could create scheduling conflicts for a fair number of the men's roster.

Tuesday night's speech is the next confirmed event linked to the controversy and the teams' invitations; attendance by the men's players remains uncertain.