MILAN — The celebration for Team USA’s historic 2-1 victory over Canada in the men’s hockey final was marked by a congratulatory call from President Donald Trump. This win secured America’s first gold medal in men’s hockey since the legendary “Miracle on Ice” in 1980.
Head coach Mike Sullivan shared that President Trump expressed immense pride in the team’s achievement during the call. “He spoke to the group, praising their effort and congratulating everyone on the victory,” Sullivan remarked. “In many ways, this game served as an inspiration for our nation.”
Sullivan noted the overwhelming support from fans back home, mentioning the numerous messages he received about early morning watch parties. “There was significant viewership from the United States, with many, including the president, closely following the game,” he added.
Previously, Trump had reached out to Team USA prior to the 4 Nations final last year, which ended in a loss to Canada amidst a politically charged atmosphere. At that time, tensions were high due to talk from the White House about potentially annexing Canada as the 51st state, leading to the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ being booed in Montreal during Team USA’s matches at the Bell Centre.
For now, those tensions have largely subsided. While some European media outlets attempted to link the hockey tournament to political issues, the event remained mostly free from such narratives. However, the Olympics as a whole did not escape Trump-related headlines.
Speculation had circulated about Trump attending the final in Italy, but with his State of the Union address scheduled for Tuesday, the visit did not materialize.
The most the president waded in, at least as it related to hockey, was after the tournament concluded.
“We’re all proud Americans, obviously,” captain Auston Matthews said. “This is a huge moment for us. A huge moment for the United States. He called, just congratulated us.”
Matthews seemed to indicate that a White House visit was possible, though Team USA’s fluctuating travel plans due to the blizzard on the East Coast and the NHL resuming play Thursday may make that a heavy logistical lift.
“I think there’s a lot of moving parts as far as our travels back home. We’ll see what happens,” Matthews said. “It’s an honor to wear this jersey and to represent the U.S. To go home with a gold medal. You know how much that means to guys in this room, to people watching and rooting us on too.”
