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The nickname “Secretary of Defense” appears to have stuck for Team USA goalie Connor Hellebuyck after he was spotted with a cute plaque as he flew to Washington DC to meet President Donald Trump in the Oval Office ahead of his State of the Union address.
Hellebuyck and several of his American teammates took an Air Force plane to the nation’s capital to visit the White House, and Dylan Larkin shared a photo of the guard holding a light blue plaque with a bald eagle and “Secretary of Defense” written at the top.
Hellebuyck was all smiles, holding his Olympic gold medal in front of him.
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Connor Hellebuyck of Team USA saves the shot taken by Devon Toews, number 7, of Team Canada in the third period during the men’s gold medal game between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
After the nickname began circulating on social media following his incredible 41-save performance Sunday in the 2-1 overtime victory over Team Canada, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth loved it.
“Now we have a Secretary of War…and a Secretary of Defense!” Hegseth said on the post showing Hellebuyck’s now-iconic save on Devon Toews’ third-period shot that would have broken a 1-1 tie at that point.
Hegseth held the title of secretary of defense before the agency became known as the Department of War last September. The DOW Rapid Response
“THE AMERICAN SECRETARY OF DEFENSE!” the message read.
Hegseth was one of several Americans to show pride as the United States beat Canada, which was unable to capitalize on some prime chances against Hellebuyck, including alternate captain Nathan MacKinnon missing a wide-open net in the third period.
“It’s a dream come true,” Hellebuyck said via NBC after the game. “We worked hard, we fought, and it was some of the best and most fun hockey I’ve ever played.”
Hellebuyck helped the United States make history by becoming the first team since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team to win Olympic gold. Jack Hughes scored the overtime goal to clinch gold in Milan, and it’s been a celebration for Team USA ever since.
Connor Hellebuyck of Team USA celebrates a 2-1 gold medal victory over Canada in overtime during the Men’s Gold Medal Game between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Grégory Shamus/Getty Images)
It was the same result the United States women’s hockey team had achieved just days before Hughes’ goal, as Megan Keller scored the game-winner against Team Canada in overtime to also win gold. The women’s hockey team declined Trump’s invitation to his State of the Union address Tuesday, citing scheduling conflicts due to “academic and work commitments.”
Trump told the men’s team after inviting them to Tuesday’s State of the Union conference that he “should” invite the women’s team or “I’d probably be impeached.”
While the men’s hockey team was heard laughing at Trump’s joke, the phone call exchange has since gone viral, with some criticizing Trump and the team for joking about female accomplishments.
Members of the men’s hockey team were on hand for the women’s gold medal, including Hughes, who said after his own heroics that he thought of Keller’s goal immediately afterwards while celebrating with his teammates.
American pride was also on full display in Milan, with Hellebuyck skating alone on the ice with an American flag on his back, while the crowd roared its approval.
Larkin and Zach Werenski also appeared on PK Press Club Channel’s “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning, hours after the team’s Miami celebration at E11EVEN MIAMI nightclub, where they talked about representing the country in the Olympics.
Connor Hellebuyck of the United States celebrates after beating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026. (David W Cerny/Reuters via Imagn Images)
“I think a lot of us went through the U.S. National Team Development Program… When we were there, you could put on the jersey every day for two years, before you got drafted. We go through training. We’re not military by any means, but they put us through training and they definitely give you a certain pride,” Larkin explained. “Once you get through that, you take the jersey off…and every time you take it off, at least for me, I don’t know the next time I’m going to put it on.”
Werenski added: “When you come back here, you remember how great the United States of America is. And we love representing our country, we love wearing these colors.”
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