All articles tagged with #olympic hockey
Jack Hughes reiterated that he’s honored the Olympic gold puck is in the Hockey Hall of Fame, after previously questioning why the Hall possesses the puck and suggesting it should belong to him and Megan Keller. He said he’s focused on playing, while the IIHF and Hall defended the display as preserving defining Olympic moments and artifacts donated since 1998.
Hilary Knight, Megan Keller and the Hughes brothers joined SNL’s opening bit to riff on the US men’s and women’s hockey golds, delivering a light moment that referenced a week of controversy sparked by President Trump’s remarks; Knight later called the joke distasteful, while the women had declined the invitation to attend the State of the Union and returned home from the Milan-Cortina Games, underscoring ongoing gender dynamics in Olympic hockey.
On Saturday Night Live, host Connor Storrie welcomed Olympic gold medalists from both the US men’s and women’s hockey teams—Jack and Quinn Hughes, Megan Keller, and Hilary Knight—who joined him on stage after the men’s Milan-Cortina gold. The night highlighted playful rivalries, featured a Rockefeller Center ice-skating sketch with a surprise Hudson Williams cameo, and included performances by Mumford & Sons with Hozier. The piece also notes Storrie’s rapid rise from waiter to actor and places the appearance in the broader context of the Olympic triumphs and related White House invitation drama surrounding the teams.
OutKick reports that Harrison Browne, a Canadian transgender hockey player, criticized Team USA for ‘facilitating’ a Trump moment after winning Olympic gold, arguing the moment became politicized and calling for an apology, while the piece notes the mixed reactions from fans and peers and frames the debate as part of a broader sports-culture divide over politics.
In a candid interview, Bill Guerin details the pressure of selecting Team USA's Olympic roster, the elation of the 2-1 OT gold win, and the emphasis on unselfish teamwork and chemistry, which he believes could boost hockey’s popularity in the United States and shape future teams.
Joe Buck praises NBC's Olympic hockey coverage, calling Mike Tirico's hosting a masterclass and Kenny Albert's overtime call a standout moment in the USA-Canada gold-medal game, signaling a landmark presentation for a new generation of fans.
US Olympic hockey star Brady Tkachuk denounces a viral AI-generated White House clip that allegedly insults Canadians after the US won gold; he says the voice and lips aren’t his. The episode coincides with Trump’s post‑win remarks and a joke about inviting the women’s team, which drew criticism. Twenty US men’s players later visited the White House, while the women’s team declined the invitation.
Jack Hughes was greeted with a thunderous ovation at Prudential Center as the New Jersey Devils resumed play after the Olympic break, fresh off scoring Team USA’s gold in Milan; he addressed the crowd amid strong U.S. patriotic vibes, with fans chanting 'USA' and celebrating Hughes’ gold-medal heroics.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the U.S.-Canada Olympic hockey gold medal game drew strong ratings (18.6 million, peaking at 26 million) but its 8:10 a.m. ET start due to IOC scheduling likely kept millions from watching live; he’s pressuring the IOC to consider a better timeslot for future Games (including Salt Lake City 2034 in primetime) and criticized the IOC for restricting use of Olympic footage in marketing, noting ongoing talks with IOC president Kirsty Coventry.
NBC and Peacock combined to average 18.6 million viewers for the U.S.-Canada Olympic men’s hockey final, the largest hockey audience since 2010, with 3.7 million streaming viewers and encore airings pushing total reach to about 20.7 million; Nielsen-only figures would be around 14.9 million, underscoring NBC’s success leveraging streaming and new measurement methods for Olympic hockey’s marquee moment.
Twenty of the 25 members of the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team will attend Tuesday’s State of the Union in Washington after being invited by President Trump following their gold-medal victory, with some players opting out due to upcoming games or personal schedules. Others, including Jake Oettinger and Kyle Connor, will not attend or have limited involvement, and several players are already traveling or preparing with their NHL teams. The White House visit followed a celebratory trip, and attendance decisions are being made on a per-player basis.
Team USA’s moving tribute to late hockey star Johnny Gaudreau—hanging his No. 13 jersey in the locker room and carrying it onto the ice after the gold-medal win—elicited heartfelt responses from his widow Meredith Gaudreau and sister Katie Gaudreau, who thanked the squad on social media and on Fox News. The homage also included Gaudreau’s children, Johnny Jr. and Noa, in the celebration, honoring a player who had been slated to compete for Team USA before his 2024 death.
Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to win its first men’s hockey gold since 1980 in Milan, while paying a heartfelt tribute to late Johnny Gaudreau by parading his jersey and recognizing his family at the medal ceremony; teammates said they played for him, turning the victory into a memorial moment for the beloved hockey star.
Bryce Harper expressed pride in representing the United States after the U.S. men’s hockey team beat Canada to win Olympic gold, highlighting the emotional weight and patriotism of wearing a USA jersey on the world stage.
In Milan, Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to win its first Olympic men’s hockey gold in 46 years. In a poignant moment before the final, captains Zach Werenski and Auston Matthews arranged for a team photo with the late Johnny Gaudreau and his family on the ice, honoring Johnny and his brother Matty, who were killed in 2024. Noa Gaudreau and Johnny Gaudreau Jr. joined the celebration, symbolizing the players’ belief that Johnny’s presence steadied and inspired the team throughout the tournament. Teammates and family members spoke about the enduring impact Johnny and Matty had on the squad, with jersey tributes and the moment on the ice underscoring the honor of the win.