Team USA’s Olympic gold medal win did not end with the final buzzer. Just one day after their 2-1 overtime victory against Canada at the Milan Cortina Winter Games, the men’s hockey team landed in Miami ready to celebrate. The championship game was tight, emotional, and decided in overtime. Fans were still talking about the winning goal when the team walked into E11EVEN nightclub for a night out that quickly turned unforgettable.
That is where ESPN host Pat McAfee stepped in with a surprise no one inside the club expected. As the players partied, a video message from McAfee appeared on the big screen. He thanked them for representing the country and then made a bold promise. “Boys, thank you for representing the United States of America in such a great way,” he said. “It was an honor to watch you win. Enjoy the hell out of it. Tonight, all of your drinks are on me at E11EVEN Miami and the rest of the United States of America. Cheers, boys, we appreciate you.”
Connor Hellebuyck’s 41 saves, President Donald Trump’s White House remarks and the Presidential Medal of Freedom announcement
The Miami celebration was loud, but the headlines did not stop there. According to the Daily Mail, the team went through more than $150,000 worth of champagne during the night. Players were also seen holding Michelob Ultra beers as music played and fans cheered them on. After weeks of pressure and a gold-medal game that needed overtime to decide a winner, the mood inside the club was pure relief and pride.
Soon after, the focus shifted from Miami to Washington. Several players joined a phone call with Donald Trump following the victory. During that call, Trump joked about also inviting the women’s hockey team to the White House, saying, “I believe I probably would be impeached.” The remark spread quickly online and led to mixed reactions across social media.
Days later, some members of the men’s team attended the State of the Union address in Washington, D.C., before visiting the White House. During his speech, Trump confirmed that the women’s team, who also won gold in Milan, would receive an invitation as well.
He also made a major announcement about goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Trump said Hellebuyck would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. Hellebuyck made 41 saves in the gold-medal game against Canada, keeping Team USA alive during intense stretches and standing tall until the overtime winner sealed the title. His performance became one of the biggest stories of the tournament.
Meanwhile, McAfee continued to congratulate the team on social media before returning to his ESPN show after a short Super Bowl break. From Olympic ice to a six-figure party in Miami and then to the White House, Team USA’s gold-medal journey moved quickly and kept the spotlight firmly on them.
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