U.S. Olympic men’s hockey captain Auston Matthews has called the controversy surrounding the women’s hockey team “unfortunate” after backlash erupted over his team’s reaction to comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump following Sunday’s gold-medal victory over Canada.
“We have nothing but love and respect for the women’s team and what they were able to accomplish,” said Matthews, who also captains the Toronto Maple Leafs. “It’s amazing that the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams were both bringing home gold medals for the United States of America.”
The men’s team captured its first Olympic gold since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime on a goal by Jack Hughes at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
After receiving an invitation from Trump, the men’s team visited the White House on Tuesday and later attended the State of the Union address. However, a phone call between Trump and the players following the championship game sparked criticism when the president joked that he would need to invite the women’s team as well or risk impeachment. The players’ laughter during the call drew swift attention on social media.
U.S. women’s hockey player Hayley Scamurra addressed the situation by shifting focus to the team’s achievements, saying they had received overwhelming support from fans, celebrities, and brands since the incident.
Women’s team captain Hilary Knight later described the remark as a “distasteful joke” during an interview on ESPN’s SportsCenter, adding that it had overshadowed the women’s Olympic success. Trump subsequently announced the women’s team would visit the White House “soon,” though USA Hockey confirmed no date had been set due to players returning to professional and collegiate seasons.
Several members of the men’s team acknowledged the moment could have been handled better. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman said the players fully supported the women’s squad, while Jake Oettinger emphasized that the women “deserve all the credit in the world.” Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor said the locker-room atmosphere was chaotic following the gold-medal win and that he barely remembered the exchange.
Sports sociologist Laura Misener said she would have preferred a stronger response from the men’s team earlier in the week, arguing that athletes should take clearer stands against behavior that diminishes women’s achievements in sport.
Despite the controversy, Trump also announced that U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his performance in the gold-medal game, where he stopped 41 shots. He will become the first professional hockey player to receive the honor.
Murat Ates of The Athletic said the recognition elevates Hellebuyck’s legacy, calling his Olympic performance a defining moment that cements his place among hockey’s elite.
