Why 5 U.S. Men’s Hockey Team Members Skipped Visit to Meet Donald Trump at the White House After Olympic Victory
Why 5 U.S. Men’s Hockey Team Members Skipped Visit to Meet Donald Trump at the White House After Olympic Victory
Michael NiedWed, February 25, 2026 at 6:03 PM UTC
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Team USA's men's hockey team celebrate their gold medal at the 2026 Winter OlympicsCredit: Bruce Bennett/Getty -
Five members of Team USA's men's hockey team were not present for Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Feb. 24, despite being invited by the president
The remaining 20 members of the gold medal team visited the White House and shook hands with Trump before attending the speech
Many of the players who missed the event had NHL games scheduled for Feb. 25
After winning their big game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the U.S. men's hockey team traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Donald Trump.
However, five of the newly minted gold medalists were notably absent from the White House visit, which preceded the president's annual State of the Union address.
Trump, 79, incited controversy when he invited the men's hockey team to the State of the Union on a phone call as they celebrated their victory over Canada on Sunday, Feb. 22.
Members of Team USA's men's hockey team attend Donald Trump's State of the UnionCredit: Andrew Harnik/Getty
While he seemed thrilled to host the men's team, he laughingly implied that he'd "have to" invite the women's hockey team after they also won a gold medal in their own respective victory on Thursday, Feb. 19.
At Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday, Feb. 24, he claimed that the U.S. women's hockey team — who declined to attend the event — would soon be visiting the White House to celebrate their own Olympic victory.
A rep for the women's team told PEOPLE in response to Trump's remarks, "Players are back competing with their professional and collegiate teams and are in the midst of their season. They’re honored and grateful to be invited and any opportunity to visit the White House as a team will be based on their schedules once their seasons conclude."
While the women's team didn't travel to D.C. on Tuesday, 20 members of the men's team did, where they stopped by the White House before heading over to the U.S. Capitol to watch Trump speak inside the House Chamber.
During his speech, the president said that he planned to award U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
All but five of Hellebuyck's teammates were there for the announcement; Brock Nelson, Jackson LaCombe, Jake Oettinger, Jake Guentzel and Kyle Connor were notably absent. Reps for USA Hockey did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on the players' absences.
According to USA Today, the NHL paused its season for three weeks so that members of the league could represent various countries in the Games. The season resumed play on Wednesday, Feb. 25, one day after the State of the Union and just three days after the men's hockey team concluded their play at the Olympics.
Team USA hockey player Brock Nelson after Team USA defeated Canada in the Men's Gold Medal match at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Feb. 22, 2026Credit: Catherine Steenkeste/Getty
Many of the players are scheduled to play games for their respective NHL teams on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 26.
Jackson LaCombe's team, the Anaheim Ducks, faces off against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. A reporter for The Sporting Tribune noted that both LaCombe and his teammate Mikael Granlund, who skated for Finland at the Games, were headed back to Anaheim, Calif. on Tuesday and were expected to land later in the day.
Jake Guentzel of the Tampa Bay Lightning is also due back on the ice on Wednesday. Tampa Bay Times reporter Eduardo Encina noted that he was "back in Tampa" on Tuesday, though he wasn't on the ice for the team's practice that day.
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The Colorado Avalanches face off against the Utah Mammoths on Wednesday. Denver Post reporter Corey Masisak noted, "All four guys who played in the gold medal game are back in Denver this morning."
Team USA hockey player Jake Guentzel at the Men's Semifinals Playoff match between the United States and Slovakia on day fourteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 20, 2026Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty
That included Team USA member Nelson, who "skipped the White House/DC trip to come back here with his family," Masisak said.
His fellow teammates Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Devon Toews played for Canada at the Games.
Speaking to The Athletic on Tuesday, Connor noted that he was back for practice with the Winnipeg Jets ahead of their Wednesday game against the Vancouver Canucks.
Team USA hockey player Jake Oettinger at the Winter Olympics on Feb. 18, 2026Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty
“I’m just getting ready,” he said. “We play on Wednesday. It’s a big second half so I just wanted to make sure I was ready.”
The hockey player explained that he “[didn’t] really have any thoughts” on the manner in which Trump extended his invite to the women's hockey team.
Team USA hockey player Jackson LaCombe during a game against the Los Angeles Kings on Jan. 16, 2026Credit: Ric Tapia/Getty
“There’s so many things happening,” he said, referencing Trump's phone call. “We just won the gold medal and things are going on so I don’t really remember what he said. It’s such a whirlwind, just celebrating.”
Jonah Javad, a reporter with local Dallas outlet WFAA, also noted that Oettinger was back in Dallas ahead of the Dallas Stars game against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday.
Team USA hockey player Kyle Connor at the Canada Life Centre on Oct. 28, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanadaCredit: Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty
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Other members of the hockey team, including Hellebuyck, who is also a member of the Jets, and star players Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, are expected back on the ice on Wednesday with their NHL teams.
Hughes addressed the "backlash" his team received after accepting the president's invitation in an interview with the Daily Mail after their Olympic win.
"Everything is so political. We're athletes. We're so proud to represent the U.S., and we get the chance to go to the White House, meet the president. You know, we're proud to be Americans," he said. "No matter what your views are, we're super excited to go."
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