2 months ago
1
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday (February 24, 2026) helium was giving the nation's highest civilian honour to nationalist crystal hockey squad goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck arsenic helium honoured the squad astatine his State of the Union code to Congress.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom has been fixed to popes and governmental activists and besides Olympic athletes successful the past.
Trump's clasp of the men's squad came arsenic the women's side, which besides won golden astatine the precocious concluded Winter Olympics, declined an invitation to the speech.
"Here with america is simply a radical of winners," Mr. Trump said arsenic the hockey squad entered Congress — the players wearing their golden medals astir their necks — to chants of "USA, USA, USA!"
"Great athletes person gotten that," Mr. Trump said of the award. "I thought helium deserved it."
Mr. Hellebuyck stood retired successful the men's 2-1 golden medal triumph implicit Canada with 41 blocked shots including a spectacular behind-the-back save.
The women's squad said earlier Tuesday (February 24, 2026) it had declined the invitation to the State of the Union, though Mr. Trump said successful his code they "will soon beryllium coming to the White House."
A connection from USA Hockey, the sport's nationalist governing body, sent to AFP Tuesday (February 24, 2026) said the players were "unable to participate" successful the State of the Union owed to anterior commitments.
Team USA's women's squad won golden for the archetypal clip since 2018 erstwhile they bushed the Canadians Thursday, besides 2-1.
The U.S. men's squad followed that up Sunday (February 22, 2026) with their ain crystal hockey golden for the archetypal clip successful 46 years.
In a video shared online soon aft the win, Mr. Trump tin beryllium heard connected talker telephone successful a telephone with the men's team, inviting them to the code earlier saying: "We're gonna person to bring the women's team, you bash cognize that?" to which the players laugh.
"I bash judge I would astir apt beryllium impeached" if helium didn't invitation them, the President added.
Some 20 members of the men's squad arrived astatine the White House Tuesday (February 24, 2026) afternoon, up of that evening's code astatine the Capitol, wearing Team USA sweaters.
The connection connected behalf of the women's squad said: "We are sincerely grateful for the invitation," but that the players would not beryllium attending "due to the timing and antecedently scheduled world and nonrecreational commitments."
At slightest 5 members of the men's squad besides did not attend, according to U.S. media reports, with players saying they were heading backmost to their NHL teams for training.
