Pat McAfee Surprises Team USA Hockey with $150K Bar Tab at Gold Medal Celebration

The ESPN personality covered the hefty champagne bill for the men's hockey team after their dramatic overtime win against Canada.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

After the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team won the gold medal at the Milan Cortina Games, they celebrated their victory at the E11EVEN nightclub in Miami. ESPN personality Pat McAfee surprised the team by covering their entire $150,000 bar tab, which included champagne and Michelob Ultra beer. McAfee praised the team's performance in a video message played at the club.

Why it matters

The men's hockey team's gold medal win was a major accomplishment for Team USA, and McAfee's generous gesture highlighted the excitement and celebration surrounding their victory. The team's partying and Trump's controversial joke about the women's team also sparked discussion around the players' interactions with the president.

The details

The U.S. men's hockey team defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal at the Milan Cortina Games. After the victory, the team headed to the E11EVEN nightclub in Miami to celebrate. While they were partying, a video of ESPN's Pat McAfee appeared on the club's screens, where he praised the team's performance and announced that he would be covering their entire $150,000 bar tab, which included champagne and Michelob Ultra.

  • The U.S. men's hockey team won the gold medal on February 24, 2026.
  • The team celebrated their victory at the E11EVEN nightclub in Miami on February 24, 2026.

The players

Pat McAfee

An ESPN personality who surprised the U.S. men's hockey team by covering their $150,000 bar tab at their gold medal celebration in Miami.

Connor Hellebuyck

The U.S. men's hockey team's goaltender, who made 41 saves in the gold-medal game and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Trump.

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What they’re saying

“Boys, thank you for representing the United States of America in such a great way. It was an honor to watch you win. Enjoy the hell out of it. Tonight … all of your drinks are on me, @11Miami and the rest of the United States of America. Cheers, boys, we appreciate you.”

— Pat McAfee, ESPN Personality (TikTok)

What’s next

President Trump is expected to host the U.S. women's hockey team, who also won gold, at the White House in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Pat McAfee's generous gesture to cover the U.S. men's hockey team's bar tab at their gold medal celebration exemplifies the excitement and pride surrounding their dramatic victory. However, the team's interactions with President Trump have also sparked controversy, highlighting the political divides that can sometimes overshadow the spirit of the Olympics.