The celebrated Team USA men’s hockey squad has made its way to the US Capitol, setting the stage for Donald Trump’s State of the Union address scheduled for Tuesday night. Their presence follows a day spent in Washington, D.C., as part of an invitation extended by Trump himself during a congratulatory phone call that has stirred conversations and divided opinions across the nation.
In a light-hearted jest, Trump remarked that he might face impeachment if he failed to invite the women’s hockey team, who similarly clinched a gold medal in Milan. However, the women’s team opted to decline the invitation.
After a night of revelry in Miami, the victorious men’s team boarded a flight to the capital on Tuesday morning. Upon their arrival, they met with Trump in the Oval Office as he geared up for his significant State of the Union speech.
In a notable moment, Charlie McAvoy, a standout player from the Boston Bruins, was spotted entering the US Capitol adorned with his gold medal prominently displayed around his neck. This sighting underscored the celebratory atmosphere surrounding the event.
Out of the 25-man roster that represented Team USA in the Winter Olympics, 20 members are currently in Washington, D.C. It remains to be seen how many will choose to attend the State of the Union address, adding an element of anticipation to the evening.
There are 20 members of the 25-man Winter Olympics roster in Washington DC but it remains to be seen how many will attend the State of the Union.
Team USA hockey stars wait backstage before the State of the Union on Tuesday night
Charlie McAvoy seemed to be the first Team USA hockey star arriving at the State of the Union
He flashed his Winter Olympics gold medal to staffers and those gathered for Trump’s speech
Videos and photos shared on social media by Trump administration aides throughout Tuesday documented their trip to the White House.
They showed hockey team members posing for a photograph in front of the South Portico.
They walked along the West Wing colonnade where Trump has posted portraits of every U.S. president just steps away from the Oval Office, where they were welcomed by Trump.
As they approached the Oval Office, some of the players popped into the press office’s open door to flash the medals from their 2-1 overtime win over Canada on Sunday.
It was the Americans’ first gold medal in men’s hockey since the ‘Miracle on Ice’ group won in Lake Placid, New York, in 1980. Staffers applauded and shouted, ‘We love you!’
‘I recognize every one of you. I know every one of you,’ Trump said as the players entered the Oval Office, which he has redecorated with numerous flourishes of gold that matched the players´ medals.
‘Big guys,’ he said, standing near his desk and shaking hands with the players, who wore dark tops with ‘USA,’ the American flag and the Olympic rings on the front and light colored pants.
The one Team USA star who was instantly recognized by Trump was Panthers veteran Matthew Tkachuk, who recently made flattering comments about the President as Florida celebrated its latest Stanley Cup title at the White House last month.
As a back-to-back Stanley Cup champion, Tkachuk was making his third White House trip in just over 12 months.
‘There’s my friend,’ Trump told the elder Tkachuk brother. ‘You’ve come a long way since I last saw you.’
While 20 members of the 25-strong squad were in attendance, five players chose not to go to America’s capital to continue the celebrations.
According to The Athletic, Kyle Connor, Jake Oettinger, Brock Nelson, Jake Guentzel and Jackson LaCombe have all opted against spending time with Trump and their teammates in Washington DC.
Connor, who didn’t see any action in Milan after their first game, practiced with the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday ahead of their next NHL game on Wednesday.
Oettinger was scheduled to arrive back in Texas on Tuesday and should be at the Dallas Stars’ morning skate on Wednesday before they play the Seattle Kraken.
Nelson is back in Denver to see his family and should be back with the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. Guentzel has arrived home in Tampa Bay but skipped Lightning practice on Tuesday.
Meanwhile LaCombe was heading back to California from Miami on Tuesday as he prepares to reunite with his Anaheim Ducks teammates for their game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Interestingly, all but Connor grew up in Minnesota. There have been violent clashes in Minneapolis between immigration enforcement agents and anti-ICE protesters following the deaths of two Americans, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, last month.
More to follow.
