Connor Hellebuyck to Receive Presidential Medal Of Freedom After Olympic Gold
Connor Hellebuyck will receive the presidential medal of freedom after his starring role in Team USA’s Olympic title, a recognition announced in the wake of his 41-save performance in the gold-medal game. The honor follows the team’s visit to the State of the Union, where President Donald Trump welcomed the roster days after the victory.
Presidential Medal Of Freedom designation tied to Olympic performance
The decision to bestow the Presidential Medal Of Freedom on Hellebuyck is linked directly to his showing in Milan, where he made 41 saves in the men’s gold-medal game and delivered a stick-behind-the-back stop that helped secure the United States’ first Olympic gold in men’s hockey since 1980. What makes this notable is the immediacy of recognition: the medal follows the high-profile Olympic finale and the team’s Washington appearance.
The announcement frames Hellebuyck’s Milan run as the catalyst for national honors. He stopped 95. 6% of shots in the Olympics, finishing the tournament with 131 saves out of 137 shots across five games, and he allowed more than one goal just once — in the unclear in the provided context.
State of the Union welcome by President Donald Trump
Days after the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games gold-medal match, President Donald Trump welcomed the Team USA men’s hockey team to the State of the Union address. The appearance came on the heels of the 2-1 overtime victory against Canada on Feb. 22, 2026, and served as a public recognition of the Olympic achievement at the national level.
Gold medal game at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena
The decisive match took place on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy. Team United States defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime on Feb. 22, 2026. Photographs from the arena documented Hellebuyck’s saves; one image captured a celebration after the 2-1 overtime win (photo credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images), and another showed Hellebuyck stopping a shot from Devon Toews in the third period (photo credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images).
College development at UMass Amherst and draft to Winnipeg Jets
Hellebuyck, 32, was not a highly touted prospect early on but built his reputation at UMass Amherst. He was a fourth-round pick, 130th overall, in 2012 by the Winnipeg Jets. He spent two seasons in college, winning the Hockey East Conference both years, making the Frozen Four in his freshman season and being named the top college goalie in his sophomore season.
NHL debut, awards and playoff record with the Winnipeg Jets
Hellebuyck made his NHL debut on Nov. 27, 2015, and won his first four NHL games while recording a shutout in just his ninth appearance. He broke out in his third NHL season by leading the league with 44 wins, earning an All-Star nod and finishing second in Vezina Trophy voting that year; he won the Vezina Trophy two years later. He is the back-to-back reigning Vezina Trophy winner and is listed as one of 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.
Still, regular-season excellence has not translated fully to postseason success. After reaching the Western Conference Finals in the 2017-18 season, Hellebuyck and the Jets have not advanced past the second round. His playoff record stands at 24-34 lifetime, with a playoff save percentage of. 903 compared with a. 917 mark in the regular season. He owns a 2. 79 goals-against average overall, a 2. 55 regular-season GAA since 2017 and a 2. 90 GAA in the playoffs.
International résumé and the immediate legacy question
Before Milan, Hellebuyck had represented the United States in the 4 Nations tournament and in the men’s world championships in 2015 and 2017. The Olympic title and the subsequent presidential medal of freedom elevate his public standing, even as questions about his playoff record with the Jets remain part of his professional narrative.
The timing matters because the medal comes on the heels of both the Olympic triumph and a State of the Union spotlight, linking athletic achievement to a national ceremonial honor. The broader implication is a swift consolidation of Hellebuyck’s season-long accolades — from NHL awards to international gold — into a singular moment of recognition at the national level.
