Us Mens Hockey Controversy Follows Gold Medal Celebration
The us mens hockey controversy erupted after Team USA’s men clinched their first Olympic men’s hockey gold medal in almost five decades. The dispute began in the locker room following a 2-1 overtime win over Canada on Sunday, and has expanded into a wider culture-war argument that includes players, politicians and fans.
Celebration and the phone call
Champagne was still spraying in the locker room after the victory when New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime, and his teammates gathered with FBI director Kash Patel. Patel had been invited into the celebration by Team USA general manager Bill Guerin. Amid the chaos, Patel whipped out his phone to call President Donald Trump, who invited the men’s team to the State of the Union address on Tuesday.
Invitation, joke about women's team
During the phone call the president joked that if he did not invite the women’s team — who had also beaten Team Canada in overtime to win gold days prior — "I do believe I probably would be impeached. " That moment, captured on video, has prompted a wave of criticism and support online.
Reactions heard on video
In the footage one player could be heard saying "absolutely" when the president said he had to invite the women, while another shouted "two-for-two, " acknowledging the men’s and women’s gold-medal victories. The video led to a heated back-and-forth online, with some fans disavowing the men for laughing at the remark and others urging restraint, saying it was a brief moment of unity for the country. Conservatives have praised the players for making unabashedly patriotic statements after the win and for expressing pride in being American.
Us Mens Hockey Controversy and the politics
Despite online backlash, the men’s hockey team appeared likely to attend the State of the Union following a brief stop in Miami. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he would "squeeze in" the players by finding seats for them in the House chamber, following the president’s request to make room for the team. Tuesday afternoon many on the Olympic team were pictured outside the White House with gold medals around their necks. "We’re going to see them and we’re going to celebrate them tonight, " House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said at a Tuesday news conference about the men’s team.
Women's team response and fallout
The women’s team declined the invitation. the team "deeply appreciate[s] the recognition of their extraordinary achievement" but could not attend the State of the Union because of prior commitments. The team also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Some members of the women’s team have liked Instagram posts critical of the men’s team’s response to the president’s comment.
Broader Olympic context
The controversy arrives in a year when hockey has attracted new attention. The sport gained new fans through the Olympics and the popularity of "Heated Rivalry, " a hockey romance show centered on gay relationships; the National Hockey League has embraced the show as part of a years-long effort to expand the sport’s appeal. Observers have compared the men’s 2-1 overtime win over archrival Canada to past landmark victories, noting that it was arguably the nation’s most significant winter gold medal since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice. "
Other athlete statements and outcomes
At the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina two weeks earlier, some American athletes made critical remarks about the nation from press podiums and did not fare well in results. Freestyle skier Hunter Hess said before competing, "It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U. S. right now. It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of. " He added, "I think, for me, it’s more I’m representing my friends and family. " Hess finished 10th — and his 15 minutes of fame ended. Figure skater Amber Glenn said members of the LGBT community in America are "having a hard time" and that she would use her voice to "try to encourage people to stay strong. " Glenn’s teammates helped secure a team gold in figure skating, while she finished fifth in singles. Alysa Liu won singles gold and, the coverage noted, chose to compete for the United States instead of China, as Eileen Gu did; "Liu and her family, after all, found freedom here. "
Players' patriotism and criticism
Taylor Heise said, "Playing for your country and the pride of the place that you live in is pretty amazing and to wear that USA emblem on your chest every day is something you don’t want to take for granted. " Jack Hughes, whose broken teeth and overtime goal were highlighted as emblematic of Team USA’s grit, said in a postgame interview: "It’s all about our country right now. I love the USA. I love my teammates — it’s unbelievable. The USA Hockey brotherhood is so strong, and we had so much support. I’m so proud to be American today. " Not long after that interview, players were speaking with the president in the locker room by speakerphone and were excited about the chance to attend Tuesday’s State of the Union address.
Dominik Hašek, a Hall of Fame former NHL goalie who is Czech, lauded the women for rejecting the invitation and wrote on X: "Yes, your president is a big liar and a fraud who abuses his position to insult and bully his fellow citizens. " He added, "Still, I believe you must have shown a great deal of heroism in" — unclear in the provided context. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
As the debate continues, the sequence of events is clear: Team USA won 2-1 in overtime on Sunday, Jack Hughes scored the winner, celebrations in the locker room included Kash Patel and a call to the president, the president extended an invitation to the men and joked about the women, the women declined, and reactions have split between praise for patriotism and criticism for the perceived slight against the women’s champions.
Closing: The controversy remains active, with elected officials arranging seats, players pictured at the White House, and both praise and condemnation circulating online as the country digests the postgame exchange and its wider implications.
