New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill faced a frosty reception as she joined USA hockey star Jack Hughes in a celebration of his Olympic triumph. The 24-year-old Hughes, who scored the decisive goal securing the US men’s hockey team’s first gold medal since the 1980 Winter Olympics, was welcomed back to New Jersey with open arms. His heroics led the team to a nail-biting 2-1 victory over Canada at the Milan-Cortina Games. Following celebratory stops in Miami and the White House, Hughes returned to his home team, the New Jersey Devils, as the NHL resumed post-Olympics.

At the Prudential Center, Hughes was honored before the Devils’ match against the Buffalo Sabres. Governor Sherrill, accompanied by her husband Jason Hedberg and Devils owners David and Allison Blitzer, presented Hughes with a state flag to commemorate his Olympic success. However, as she stepped onto the ice for the ceremonial puck drop, the crowd’s cheers for Hughes turned to boos directed at Sherrill. Social media also buzzed with criticism after she posted photos of the event on X, expressing pride in Hughes and the USA hockey teams’ achievements.

Fans on social media didn’t hold back. One commented, “We love Jack, but the boos you received were well-deserved.” Another suggested Sherrill should reflect on the reasons for the negative reaction, while a third pointedly asked, “Didn’t everyone boo you?” Despite the mixed reactions, the event featured a video replay of Hughes’ game-winning goal, followed by his heartfelt address to the fans. “I’m so proud and so happy that the men’s and women’s hockey teams brought the gold medal back to America,” Hughes expressed. “I’m proud to represent the New Jersey Devils and the great state of New Jersey.”

‘I get goosebumps when I watch it back,’ Hughes said after the game. The center lost a few teeth in the third period of that game when he was high-sticked by Sam Bennett, and on Wednesday he joked about his missing teeth. ‘I’d have to look in the mirror and add it up,’ he said. ‘I have a couple of half-teeth.’ Earlier in the week, a popular deli near the Prudential Center named a sandwich after Hughes. The sandwich is advertised as being ‘so tender, you don’t need teeth.’ Hughes assisted on Timo Meier’s goal late in the third but also had a turnover that led to the second Buffalo goal as the Devils lost 2-1.

‘Obviously, this was a tough one for Jack,’ Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said. ‘It´s been a whirlwind for him. He had a lot of short shifts early and Jack’s not a short shift guy. If he’s giving you short shifts, you know he’s not quite feeling it early. All things considered, he gave us a lot.’ Hughes was not at the morning skate Wednesday. He arrived in New Jersey late Tuesday night after being recognized with his US teammates by President Donald Trump at the State of the Union address. The USA hockey stars received a far warmer welcome inside the House chamber at the Capitol than Sherrill did at the Rock.

Led by Hughes and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, the men’s players entered the House chamber through two sets of doors and walked down the rows of the press gallery. Republicans cheered and chanted ‘USA!’ several times, many even pumping fists. Lisa McClain, the Republican House Conference Chair, shouted ‘Love you!’ to the players. The experience was particularly special for one player when Trump suddenly announced that he would be awarding the nation’s highest honor. During the celebrations Trump announced he was awarding Hellebuyck, who remarkably saved 41 of 42 shots in the 2-1 overtime win over Canada, the Presidential Medal of Freedom following a vote by the players .

Trump said: ‘They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as everybody saw. As did the American women, who will soon be coming to the White House. ‘They were in the Oval Office before and I just want to say a second big congratulations to Team USA. We took a vote and I said “if anybody votes no, I’m not doing it.” They said they weren’t about to say no because they’ve never seen a goaltender play as well as Connor Hellebuyck. ‘I asked him, “the one shot where you put your stick in the back and it hit the neck of your stick and bounced off, did you practice that or was it a little lucky? He refused to answer that question. ‘But I just want to tell you that the members of this great hockey squad will be very happy to hear, based on their vote and my vote and in this case my vote was more important, that I will soon be presenting Connor with our highest civilian honor which is the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

‘What a special job you did. What special champions you are. Thank you very much.’ The men’s team spent Tuesday in Washington DC after being invited by Trump in the celebratory locker room phone call that has since divided America. Following a riotous night of celebrating in Miami, the men’s team flew to Washington DC on Tuesday morning. They met Trump in the Oval Office as he prepared to deliver his State of the Union address. There were 20 members of the 25-man Winter Olympics roster in Washington DC with five choosing to skip the trip.