Connor Hellebuyck to receive Presidential Medal Of Freedom; presidential medal of freedom honor follows State of the Union welcome
Connor Hellebuyck, the 32-year-old Team USA goalie who backstopped the United States to a 2-1 overtime victory against Canada in the Milano Cortina 2026 gold-medal game, will receive the presidential medal of freedom. President Donald Trump welcomed Team USA men's hockey to the State of the Union address days after the Winter Olympic gold.
Trump welcome at State of the Union and the Presidential Medal Of Freedom
President Donald Trump welcomed Team USA men's hockey to the State of the Union address in Washington days after the Winter Olympic victory, and Connor Hellebuyck is set to receive the Presidential Medal Of Freedom. The announcement links the team’s Olympic achievement directly to the White House appearance and the medal recognition.
Gold-medal game in Milan: 41 saves, a behind-the-back stop and a 2-1 overtime win
Hellebuyck made 41 saves in Sunday’s gold medal game, including a stop with his stick held behind his back, as the United States beat Canada 2-1 in overtime. The match was the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
He also saved a shot taken by Devon Toews of Team Canada in the third period, and images from the game were captured by Gregory Shamus and Jared C. Tilton.
Hellebuyck’s rise: UMass Amherst, the draft and early college success
Hellebuyck was not a high-profile prospect early on but made his name at UMass Amherst. He was a fourth-round pick by the Winnipeg Jets, 130th overall in 2012, and spent two seasons in college, winning the Hockey East Conference both times. He made the Frozen Four in his freshman year and was named the top college goalie in his sophomore season.
NHL milestones: debut, breakout season and multiple individual awards
Hellebuyck made his NHL debut on Nov. 27, 2015, winning his first four games and recording a shutout in his ninth. He broke out in his third season by leading the NHL with 44 wins, earning his first All-Star nod and finishing second in Vezina Trophy voting before winning the award later.
He is now the back-to-back reigning Vezina Trophy winner and one of just 13 goalies in NHL history to win the award three or more times. He also holds the reigning Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player.
Playoff record and Olympic performance numbers
Regular-season success has not always translated in the postseason: Hellebuyck helped his club reach the Western Conference Finals in the 2017-18 campaign, but the Winnipeg Jets have not been able to get past the second round since. His lifetime playoff record stands at 24-34, with a playoff save percentage of. 903 compared with. 917 in the regular season.
Since 2017 his regular-season goals-against average is 2. 55 and his overall goals-against average is 2. 79; the playoffs figure is 2. 90. In Milan, over five games, he stopped 95. 6% of the shots on goal (131 of 137) and allowed more than one goal just once; the context for that lone game is unclear in the provided context.
