Feb. 25 (UPI) — Goalie Connor Hellebuyck will get the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his role in leading the U.S. hockey team to gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, President Donald Trump announced.
Trump announced the honor during his 1-hour, 48-minute State of the Union speech Tuesday in Washington, D.C. He said he polled the team to decide on whom should receive the award.
“They weren’t about to say no because I’ve never seen a goaltender play as well as goalie Connor Hellebuyck,” Trump said in front of Hellebuyck and his teammates, who were in attendance for the speech.
The Winnipeg Jets net minder made 41 saves in Team USA’s 2-1 gold medal game victory over Canada on Sunday in Milan, Italy. Hellebuyck, who logged an Olympic-best 95.62% save percentage, was chosen as the best goaltender of the tournament.
He faced 137 shots and allowed six goals through six games.
“Great athletes have gotten that, very great, the best,” Trump said of the award. “I thought he deserved it. I did take a vote — every single one of them.
“I said, ‘I’m not giving it if anybody goes ‘no,’ and every single one of them rapidly put up their hand. So, I want to thank you all. What a special job you did. What special champions you are.”
Gymnast Simone Biles, former soccer star Megan Rapinoe and basketball icon Michael Jordan are among the other Team USA stars to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Trump said the Team USA women’s hockey squad, which also beat Canada for a hockey gold medal in Milan, will “soon be coming to the White House.”
A USA Hockey spokesperson announced Monday that the women’s team declined to attend his State of the Union address due to “scheduled academic and professional commitments.”
The statement came after Trump made a controversial comment while talking to the men’s team and issuing them the State of the Union invitation Sunday during a video call.
“I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” Trump said. “If I didn’t do that, I do believe I probably would be impeached.”
Several Team USA women’s hockey players went on to like social media posts critical of the Trump for his remark.
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