‘You were unbelievable!’: Trump calls US men’s hockey team after gold win over Canada

WASHINGTON, DC: Team USA captured their first men’s hockey gold medal since 1980 with a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory against Canada at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, prompting President Donald Trump to personally call the team and offer his congratulations.

The historic win ended a 46-year gold-medal drought and sparked celebrations across the country. Shortly after the game, Trump reached out to players and coaches, praising their performance and inviting them to attend Tuesday’s State of the Union address.

Trump congratulates Team USA after historic Olympic gold

Trump spoke to the players on Sunday, February 22, sharing in the excitement of their gold-medal performance at the Milano Cortina Games. During the call, he applauded the team’s resilience and specifically highlighted their defensive effort and goaltending.

“And by the way, your goalie play. Not bad!… You were all unbelievable!” Trump told the players.

In addition to his congratulations, Trump extended an invitation for the team to attend the upcoming State of the Union. He promised to arrange transportation via military aircraft and said he had medals prepared to present to the players in recognition of their achievement.

The president’s outreach came just hours after the dramatic overtime finish that secured the championship.

Coach Mike Sullivan reacts to president’s call 

Head coach Mike Sullivan described the call as a meaningful moment for the group, saying the president expressed pride in the team’s accomplishment.

“He just spoke to the group expressing how proud he was of the group and congratulating everybody on the win,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan also reflected on the broader impact of the victory, noting the strong national interest in the game.

“Obviously this game in a lot of ways was an inspiration to our country. I can’t tell you how many texts I’ve received over the last day or so about watch parties at 8 in the morning,” he said. “From a viewership standpoint in the United States, there were a lot of people paying attention, the president included.”

Jack Hughes scores golden goal to seal victory

The overtime winner came off the stick of Jack Hughes, who beat Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington to clinch the title.

Despite losing teeth and sustaining an injury from a stick during the game, Hughes expressed pride in representing his country.

“This is all about our country right now. I love the USA. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable,” Hughes told NBC. “The US are a hockey brotherhood. It’s so strong and we had so much support from ex-players. I’m so proud to be American today.”

Hughes also credited goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who made 41 saves to keep the US in contention throughout the matchup.

“Listen, they probably outplayed us a little bit tonight,” Hughes said. “Our goalie stood on his head though, and then overtime we both have skilled players, so anything can happen.”

The win marked one of the most significant moments in recent US Olympic hockey history, rekindling memories of the 1980 Miracle on Ice and delivering a championship that players and fans had waited decades to celebrate.