Trump Awards Medal of Freedom to USA Hockey Hero Hellebuyck
President Donald Trump announced during his 2026 State of the Union address that Team USA hockey goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor
Trump made the announcement after hosting the gold medal-winning U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team at the White House, where he polled players on awarding Hellebuyck the medal—they unanimously agreed. He emphasized his vote carried extra weight, praising Hellebuyck’s standout performance, including a dramatic behind-the-back stick save in the 2-1 gold medal win over Canada.
Hellebuyck’s Achievement
Hellebuyck, who plays for the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets, made 41 saves in the final, securing the U.S. men’s first Olympic hockey gold since 1980. Trump called it one of the best goaltending displays he’d seen, noting only about a dozen athletes have previously received the award..
“It’s a dream come true,” Hellebuyck said, via NBC, after the game. “We grinded, we battled, and this was some of the best and most fun hockey that I’ve ever played.”
Hellebuyck somehow stopped a wide open Devon Toews’ shot in front of his crease with only his stick, turning quickly with his right hand to stop the puck and keeping the game tied in the second period. Without that save, and many others, the result may have been different.
Canada’s Mitch Marner had the puck in the offensive zone when he threw it toward Hellebuyck’s net, where defenseman Devon Toews was right in front. Perhaps nine out of 10 times, Toews scores in this scenario, but Hellebuyck somehow had the wherewithal to throw out his stick as a last-ditch effort for the save.
Instead of the puck staying down on the ice, Toews lifted it just a bit and Hellebuyck’s paddle was right in the away to thwart the goal attempt. At the time, the score was 1-1, and it remained that way through the end of the second period and throughout the third before overtime was needed.
After the game, Hellebuyck was skating around the ice alone with an American flag on his back, as the crowd went roaring for the man they knew was a hero just as much as Hughes in the victory.