U.S. Hockey Teams Deserve Celebration, Not Controversy

The men's and women's U.S. Olympic hockey teams have been unfairly criticized instead of celebrated for their gold medal wins.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The U.S. Olympic hockey teams, both the men's and women's, have been the subject of unnecessary criticism and controversy instead of the celebration they deserve for their gold medal victories. The players should not be forced to answer questions about politics or be caught up in a culture war, but rather their accomplishments on the ice should be the focus.

Why it matters

The politicization of the U.S. hockey teams' success takes away from the incredible achievements of the players, who should be celebrated as national heroes. This controversy risks dividing the country further along partisan lines when the teams' victories should be unifying moments of national pride.

The details

The men's team, led by captain Auston Matthews, has faced questions about their visit to the White House and President Trump's comments, while the women's team has been criticized by Megan Rapinoe. "Miracle on Ice" hero Mike Eruzione has felt compelled to defend the men's players against the criticism. The controversy stems from Trump's phone call to the men's team, in which he made what were seen as inappropriate comments about the women's team.

  • The U.S. men's hockey team won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
  • The U.S. women's hockey team won gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics three days earlier, also in Milan.

The players

Auston Matthews

Captain of the U.S. men's Olympic hockey team.

Megan Rapinoe

U.S. women's soccer player who criticized the men's hockey team.

Mike Eruzione

Member of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" U.S. Olympic hockey team who defended the current men's players.

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What they’re saying

“The team that wins the Stanley Cup every year accepts the White House invitation to go. I just think it's something that you do because we are proud Americans and whatever your political beliefs may be, hopefully something like this will bring more unity to the country. But for us, we believe it's a great honor no matter who is in office.”

— Auston Matthews, U.S. men's Olympic hockey team captain (USA TODAY)

“The president's comments were distasteful.”

— Hilary Knight, U.S. women's Olympic hockey player (USA TODAY)

What’s next

The U.S. hockey teams will be honored at a White House ceremony in the coming weeks, where they hope to move past the controversy and celebrate their historic achievements.

The takeaway

The U.S. Olympic hockey teams, both men's and women's, deserve to be celebrated for their gold medal victories without being dragged into partisan politics and culture wars. Their accomplishments on the ice should be the focus, not the controversies surrounding presidential phone calls and White House visits.