5 US Men's Hockey Players Skip White House Visit

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Five members of the U.S. men's Olympic hockey team, including Colorado Avalanche forward Brock Nelson, did not attend a White House visit and State of the Union address honoring the team's gold medal win. The players cited personal and logistical reasons for not making the trip to Washington, D.C.

Why it matters

The decision by several players to skip the White House event highlights the ongoing political divisions in the U.S., with some athletes choosing not to participate in such celebrations. It also raises questions about the role of sports and politics, and whether athletes should be expected to attend events honoring their achievements.

The details

In addition to Nelson, four other U.S. men's hockey players did not go to Washington: Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jake Guentzel, Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor, Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger, and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe. Three more players - Auston Matthews, Clayton Keller and Dylan Larkin - were in Washington but did not attend the State of the Union address.

• On February 22, the U.S. men's hockey team won the gold medal at the Olympics in Milan, Italy.
• On February 24, Brock Nelson and three of his Avalanche teammates who played for Canada returned to Colorado instead of going to Washington.
• On February 25, President Trump honored the U.S. men's hockey team during his State of the Union address.

What’s next

The U.S. women's hockey team, which also won gold at the Olympics, is expected to visit the White House at a later date.