Connor Hellebuyck transformed himself from an NHL star into a mainstream American hero while leading the U.S. men's hockey team to the gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
The performance by the Winnipeg Jets goalie caught the eye of President Donald Trump, who announced Tuesday in his State of the Union address that Hellebuyck would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Twenty players from the men's Olympic team visited the White House on Tuesday, according to multiple media reports, ahead
of being honored guests at the Capitol for the State of the Union.
Trump polled the players if Hellebuyck should get the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
"I said, 'I'm not giving it if anyone goes no,'" the president said. "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 added, "I've never seen a goaltender play as well as goalie Connor Hellebuyck."
Hellebuyck, among the Olympic contingent in attendance, tapped his heart and waved.
Trump said during his speech, "Our country is winning again. In fact, we're winning so much that we really don't know what to do about it. People are asking me -- please, please, please Mr. President, we're winning too much. We can't take it anymore. We're not used to winning in our country. Until you came along, we're just always losing, but now, we're winning too much.
"And I say, no no no. You're going to win again. You're going to win big. You're gonna win bigger than ever, and to prove that point -- to prove that point -- here with us tonight is a group of winners who just made the entire nation proud: the men's gold medal Olympic hockey team."
Two upper doors in the House of Representatives then opened, and the U.S. players entered and were greeted with bipartisan cheering.
Hellebuyck made 41 saves in the United States' 2-1 overtime win against Canada in the gold-medal match at Milan. A three-time winner of the NHL's Vezina Trophy (best goaltender), the 32-year-old Michigan native is also the reigning winner of the Hart Trophy (league MVP).
Trump invited the gold-medal-winning U.S. women's Olympic team to the White House and the State of the Union, but that squad declined the offer, citing "timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments."
During his speech, Trump said the U.S. women's team "will soon be coming to the White House."
Recent athletes to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom include Simone Biles (2022), Megan Rapinoe (2022), Katie Ledecky (2024), Jim Thorpe (posthumously in 2024), Magic Johnson (2025) and Lionel Messi (2025).
Past winners include Tiger Woods, Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Billie Jean King, Muhammad Ali, Arnold Palmer, Arthur Ashe and Jackie Robinson.
--Field Level Media
