United States Men's Hockey Team Claims Third Olympic Gold Medal in Dramatic Overtime Victory
The United States men's hockey team achieved a historic triumph on Sunday in Milan, capturing their third Olympic men's hockey championship with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win against Canada. The decisive goal was scored by Jack Hughes, who secured the victory for the American squad in a nail-biting finish at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
Presidential Recognition and Invitation to Washington
Shortly after the game concluded, President Donald Trump made a congratulatory call to the team via FaceTime Audio. In a locker-room video shared by the White House rapid response account, Trump praised the players for what he described as an "unbelievable" performance. He extended an invitation for the team to attend Tuesday night's State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol as guests of honor.
"I'll tell you what – I just told my people two minutes ago. I said, we're giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night," Trump stated during the call. "We could send a military plane or something. But if you would like to [attend], it's the coolest night."
The president also mentioned plans for a White House celebration the following day, promising medals for the players and suggesting the U.S. women's hockey team should also be invited. The women's team had won their own Olympic gold medal just days earlier with an overtime victory over Canada.
Key Performances and Team Achievement
This victory marks the first Olympic men's hockey gold for the United States since the legendary "Miracle on Ice" team of 1980. Beyond Hughes' game-winning goal, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck delivered an extraordinary performance, stopping 41 of 42 shots faced. His acrobatic saves throughout the game kept American hopes alive during critical moments.
Trump specifically acknowledged Hellebuyck during the call, saying, "I'm going to shake hands with everybody, but I've got to shake hands with that goalie." The president emphasized the national significance of the victory, telling players, "You're going to be proud of that game for 50 years as you grow older."
Team Response and Logistical Considerations
U.S. captain Auston Matthews expressed gratitude for the presidential invitation but noted the team had not yet determined whether they could accept due to travel complications and the imminent resumption of the NHL season on Wednesday. "We're all proud Americans, obviously, and this is a huge moment for us," Matthews said. "He called and just congratulated us. I think there's a lot of moving parts as far as our travels back home, but we'll kind of see what happens."
Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed the presidential call took place in the locker room shortly after the final horn. "The players just had the president on – I don't know what it was, what do you call it? FaceTime? Whatever – in the locker room," Sullivan explained. "So he just spoke to the group, expressing how proud he was of the group and congratulating everybody on the win."
FBI Director's Involvement and Celebration
The call was coordinated in part by FBI Director Kash Patel, who had arrived in Milan ahead of the team's semi-final contest. Patel joined the locker-room celebration following Sunday's victory, having watched the game from a hospitality suite alongside American snowboarder Nick Baumgartner. Videos shared on social media showed Patel participating in the festivities, which included players singing to Toby Keith's patriotic song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue."
Patel later wrote that he was "extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys." His official biography notes that he is "a life-long ice hockey player, coach, and fan."
Political Context and Broader Implications
The presidential call revived political undertones that have surrounded recent U.S.-Canada hockey matchups. Trump had addressed many of the same players before the final of last year's 4 Nations Face-Off championship game, which occurred during a period of heightened tension between the neighboring countries.
Other Trump allies were present for Sunday's game, including Kelly Loeffler, the Small Business Administration chief and former Georgia senator, who attended as a member of the U.S. presidential delegation. Immediately after the victory, Trump posted a congratulatory message on his Truth Social account, while the White House's official X account shared a pointed message referencing Canada's previous win.
The press officers for both the U.S. men's and women's hockey teams had not responded to inquiries about State of the Union attendance or White House visit plans as of Monday morning. The dramatic Olympic victory and subsequent presidential recognition have created a significant moment in American sports history, blending athletic achievement with political ceremony.
