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NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman defended the United States men’s hockey team for its reactions when President Donald Trump spoke about the women’s team following its gold medal victory at the Cortina Games in Milan.
While on the phone with the men’s team after they defeated Canada to win gold, Trump said he “would have” to invite the women’s team, which also defeated Canada to win Olympic gold, to last week’s State of the Union address. He added that he would “probably be charged” if he did not invite the women’s team.
Members of both teams have said they supported each other during the Olympics, and Bettman agreed with that sentiment.
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NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to the media before a game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. (Marc DesRosiers/Image Images)
“I know for a fact that the men’s team had no intention of doing anything to disparage the women’s team,” Bettman said Tuesday via Sportsnet. “In any case, both teams chanted: ‘Two for two.’
“What happened and how it was portrayed, I wish it didn’t happen the way it happened, and I think it was unfair to the men’s team. And again, I don’t think the women’s team had a different view on it. I mean, look at (U.S. women’s captain) Hilary Knight and the others talking about what happened. These two teams respected each other.”
Jeremy Swayman, the men’s team’s backup goalkeeper, admitted that the team “should have reacted differently” to Trump’s comments. But he, Jack and Quinn Hughes spoke highly of the women’s team and their relationships with them.
Megan Keller (5) of the United States and Hannah Bilka (23) of the United States celebrate after winning the gold medal in women’s ice hockey after defeating Canada during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 19, 2026. (Amber Searls/Image Images)
Jack Hughes told reporters After her gold medal-winning goal, the first thing she thought about when the puck went in was Megan Keller, who scored the golden goal for the U.S. women’s team against Canada three days earlier.
The mother of the brothers, Ellen, a former Team USA player and current member of the player development staff, said the players only cared about “bringing[ing] so much unity to a group and a country.”
The gold medalists of the US men’s hockey team have irritated liberal pundits and news organizations despite captivating the nation with their Olympic achievement. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Knight and Megan Keller, who scored the women’s golden goal, joined the Hughes brothers on last weekend’s “Saturday Night Live.”
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