Connor Hellebuyck to receive Presidential Medal Of Freedom after Olympic gold and State of the Union welcome
Connor Hellebuyck will be honored with the presidential medal of freedom following his gold-medal heroics at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, a recognition that comes after the Team USA men's hockey squad was welcomed to the State of the Union address. The award underscores how Hellebuyck's performance—most notably a 41-save showing in the gold medal game—shifted him from a less-known NHL figure to a national standout.
Presidential Medal Of Freedom: timing and political spotlight
President Donald Trump welcomed the Team USA men's hockey team to the State of the Union address days after their Olympic gold at Milano Cortina 2026, and Connor Hellebuyck is set to receive the Presidential Medal Of Freedom. The timing links Hellebuyck's on-ice breakthrough with a high-profile public honor and a national political moment.
Hellebuyck's Olympic performance that triggered the honor
Hellebuyck, 32, made 41 saves in the gold medal game, including a memorable stop made with his stick behind his back, helping the United States secure its first Olympic gold medal in men's hockey since 1980. The gold-medal match ended as a 2-1 overtime victory against Canada at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026, on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.
In the tournament overall, Hellebuyck played five games and stopped 95. 6% of shots on goal (131 of 137); the context indicates he allowed more than one goal just once—unclear in the provided context what follows that clause.
Who Connor Hellebuyck is: college, draft and NHL breakout
Hellebuyck first made his name at UMass Amherst, then was a fourth-round pick by the Winnipeg Jets, 130th overall in 2012. He spent two seasons in college, winning the Hockey East Conference both seasons, making the Frozen Four in his freshman year, and being named the top college goalie in his sophomore season.
Hellebuyck made his NHL debut on Nov. 27, 2015, winning his first four games and recording a shutout in his ninth game. He broke out in his third NHL season when he led the league with 44 wins, earned his first All-Star nod and finished second in Vezina Trophy voting; two years later he won the Vezina Trophy.
International resume and Olympic context
The Olympics were not Hellebuyck's first time representing the United States. He was on the team in the 4 Nations and played in the men's world championships in both 2015 and 2017. At Milano Cortina 2026, Hellebuyck's saves included a stop on a shot taken by Devon Toews of Team Canada in the third period of the gold medal match.
Career arc: elite regular season, uneven playoffs
The Jets goalie entered Milan as the back-to-back reigning Vezina Trophy winner and is one of just 13 goalies in NHL history to win the award three or more times. He also entered the Olympics as the reigning Hart Memorial Trophy winner.
That regular-season success has not translated consistently to the postseason. Since making the Western Conference Finals in his breakout 2017-18 campaign, Hellebuyck and the Winnipeg Jets have not advanced past the second round. He is 24-34 lifetime in the playoffs, 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 GAA is 2. 79; that number sits at 2. 90 in the playoffs.
What this means next
The presidential medal of freedom and the State of the Union spotlight cap a short but decisive Olympic run that has reshaped Hellebuyck's national profile. The recognition ties an elite individual stretch of regular-season honors with a showpiece international performance and a politically visible commendation. Recent developments indicate the honor is coming; details on timing and ceremony are unclear in the provided context.
