Trump State of the Union: Connor Hellebuyck to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom, Jake Guentzel skips White House visit
· Toronto Sun
A gold medal performance equates to a presidential medal honour.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced in his State of the Union address he will bestow the Presidential Medal of Honor, the country’s highest civilian honour, to Team USA goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 41 shots in Sunday’s gold medal game against Team Canada at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
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Hellebuyck, who plays for the Winnipeg Jets, tapped his heart as those in attendance in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol applauded the news on Tuesday. The U.S. men’s hockey team — including Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews — received a two-minute standing ovation.
It’s believed that Hellebuyck will be the first hockey player to receive the Presidential Medal of Honor, ESPN reported. Athletes such as Simone Biles, Joe DiMaggio, Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth and Megan Rapinoe have previously received the honour, and they are among 671 people in total to receive the award.
Here’s the US hockey team entering tonight during the state of the union to raucous applause. Most, but not all, Democrats stood to applaud them. pic.twitter.com/zs0kbe37uK
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 25, 2026
“Great athletes have gotten that, very great, the best,” Trump said. “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.”
Trump also announced that the women’s hockey team, who also defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to win gold, will visit the White House “soon.”
The women’s team declined an invitation to attend the State of the Union due to the timing of the address.
Guentzel among five players who skipped visit
Earlier Tuesday, the men’s hockey team visited Trump at the White House, however some members did not attend.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jake Guentzel was not in Washington D.C. for the visit. Guentzel, along with Brock Nelson of the Colorado Avalanche, Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks’ Jackson LaCombe and Winnipeg Jets’ Kyle Connor, declined the White House invitation to focus on their respective NHL returns, the Hockey News reported.
Guentzel will be in action on Wednesday as the Lightning face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Tampa.
While he hadn’t practiced with Tampa Bay since winning the gold medal, Tampa Bay Times reporter Eduardo Encina confirmed Guentzel is expected to play Wednesday night.
– With files from The Associated Press