Team USA men’s hockey players begin arriving at the US Capitol for President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday evening. The Olympic gold medalists spent the day in Washington, DC, following an invitation extended by Trump during a celebratory locker room call.
Gold Medal Celebration and Invitation
The champions secured their first men’s hockey gold since the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’ with a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in Milan. Trump joked during the call that he would face impeachment if he failed to invite the women’s team, who also won gold but declined the offer.
After festivities in Miami, the team flew to the capital Tuesday morning and met Trump in the Oval Office ahead of his speech.
Capitol Arrival
Boston Bruins star Charlie McAvoy entered the Capitol wearing his gold medal around his neck, flashing it to staffers and attendees. Of the 25-player roster, 20 members traveled to Washington, though the exact number attending the address remains unclear.
Team members waited backstage before the event, marking a notable appearance amid national divisions over the invitation.
White House Visit Highlights
Social media posts from administration aides captured the group’s White House tour. Players posed in front of the South Portico and strolled the West Wing colonnade near portraits of past presidents.
As they neared the Oval Office, several flashed their medals to press office staff, who applauded and cheered, ‘We love you!’
Trump greeted the group warmly: ‘I recognize every one of you. I know every one of you.’ He called them ‘big guys’ while shaking hands near his desk. The players wore dark tops featuring ‘USA,’ the flag, and Olympic rings, paired with light pants.
Trump immediately spotted Florida Panthers veteran Matthew Tkachuk, a back-to-back Stanley Cup winner visiting the White House for the third time in 12 months. ‘There’s my friend,’ Trump said. ‘You’ve come a long way since I last saw you.’
Players Opting Out
Five roster members skipped the trip to continue personal celebrations or rejoin NHL teams:
- Kyle Connor practiced with the Winnipeg Jets ahead of Wednesday’s game.
- Jake Oettinger returned to Texas for the Dallas Stars’ skate before facing Seattle.
- Brock Nelson visited family in Denver, rejoining the Colorado Avalanche Thursday.
- Jake Guentzel skipped Tampa Bay Lightning practice after arriving home.
- Jackson LaCombe headed to California for the Anaheim Ducks’ matchup with Edmonton.
Notably, four of these players hail from Minnesota, where recent violent clashes occurred between immigration agents and anti-ICE protesters following two American deaths last month.
