US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that he would award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to American Olympic ice hockey star Connor Hellebuyck, whose heroics in a dramatic gold-medal victory over arch-rivals Canada at the Winter Olympics ended a 46-year title drought for Team USA.
The announcement, made during his State of the Union address, also comes as the sporting achievement has spilled into the political arena, with the White House mocking Canada over the defeat. It has also assumed added significance after the US women’s team declined Trump’s invitation to attend the State of the Union.
“I will soon be presenting Connor with our highest civilian honour,” he said, as the crowd cheered.
Hellebuyck made 41 saves, many of them spectacular, during the United States’ 2-1 victory over Canada in the gold medal match at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games.
During the address, the president introduced members of the US men’s ice hockey team, prompting applause from lawmakers following the squad’s recent Olympic triumph. The players entered the House chamber through the rear doors and took their seats as Trump praised their performance, calling the victory a moment of national pride.
The team’s presence at the address was particularly notable after the US women’s hockey team — which also won Olympic gold — declined an invitation to attend. Acknowledging their achievement, Trump said the women’s team would “soon be coming to the White House,” indicating that a separate honouring ceremony was planned.
Team USA’s historic win has also played out in the diplomatic arena, with the Trump administration mocking former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who had confidently predicted that Canada would claim ice hockey gold at the 2026 Winter Games.
“You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game,” Trudeau had tweeted on February 21 last year. After the United States defeated Canada in the dramatic gold-medal clash, the White House responded with a cheeky post showing a bald eagle preying on a Canadian goose.
During his first term, Trump awarded the Medal of Freedom to several prominent athletes, including golfer Tiger Woods and football players Alan Page and Roger Staubach. He also conferred the honour posthumously on baseball legend Babe Ruth.
