Five members of the gold medal-winning Team USA men’s hockey team opted not to attend a meeting with President Donald Trump amid multiple swirling controversies.
Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor, Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger, Colorado Avalanche forward Brock Nelson, Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jake Guentzel all returned to their NHL teams instead of making the trip to Washington, D.C. with the rest of their Olympic teammates.
Team USA met with Trump, 79, at the White House on Tuesday, February 24, with most of the players sticking around to attend that evening’s State of the Union address.
Connor, 29, addressed skipping the D.C. trip after Jets practice on Tuesday.
“I’m just getting ready to play on Wednesday,” Connor told reporters, adding, “We have a big second half so I just wanted to make sure I was ready.”
The Jets return to action in Vancouver against the Canucks on Wednesday, February 25.
Connor was asked about the controversy surrounding Team USA’s phone call with Trump after they defeated Team Canada in the gold medal game in Italy on Sunday, February 22. During the call, the president said he would “probably be impeached” if he didn’t also invite the Team USA women’s hockey team to the White House, which drew hearty laughter from the male athletes.
The U.S. women’s team also won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in their own showdown against Canada.
“I don’t really have any thoughts on that,” Connor said. “There’s so many things happening. We just won the gold medal and things are going on, so I don’t really remember what he said. It’s such a whirlwind, just celebrating.”
Oettinger, 27, “did not accept” Trump’s invitation to the White House, a team spokesperson told The Dallas Morning News. The Stars resume their schedule on Wednesday at home against the Seattle Kraken.
Nelson, 34, returned home to Denver to be with his family instead of traveling to D.C., according to CBS News. The Avalanche travel to face the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday.
Guentzel, 31, decided to skip the meeting with Trump “to rest [and] prepare himself for the game tomorrow (and the rest of the season),” Lightning beat writer Eduardo A. Encina reported on Tuesday. The Lightning host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night.
Neither LaCombe or the Ducks have addressed why he decided to decline the president’s invitation. Anaheim welcomes the Edmonton Oilers to town on Wednesday.
Goalie Connor Hellebuyck was singled out by Trump during his State of the Union address on Tuesday. Following his stellar performance in the gold medal game against Canada, Trump said the goaltender would be receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“The members of this hockey squad will be very happy to hear that, 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,” the president said.
Trump added, “I’ve never seen a goalie play as well as Connor Hellebuyck.”
Hellebuyck, 32, is expected to be with the Jets in Vancouver when they return to action on Wednesday night, though it’s not clear if he’ll start the game.
