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President Donald Trump spoke with the United States men’s hockey team and invited them to his State of the Union address following their gold medal victory over Canada at the Winter Olympics.
U.S. Olympian Matthew Tkachuk reflected on the president’s phone call as he arrived at Miami International Airport a day after the team won a gold medal.
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American hockey player Matthew Tkachuk signs autographs after arriving at Miami International Airport from the Milan Cortina Olympics, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
“It was super cool,” he told reporters as he entered the terminal. “It’s an honor to hear from the President of the United States. To hear that he supported us and all the other athletes in wanting us to bring home as many gold medals as possible. We are truly honored to represent him and the hundreds of millions of people across the country and bring home a gold medal.”
The Florida Panthers star was also asked what the difference was between winning a gold medal and winning the Stanley Cup.
Matthew Tkachuk (19) of the United States celebrates after the United States defeated Canada in a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, February 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Tkachuk and the Panthers are two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. He stressed that the major difference was what this victory meant for the country as a whole.
“It’s almost more meaningful for everyone in the sense that it’s a way to unite the whole country,” he said. “When you go through the two months and 82 games of the NHL season, you can’t compare that. It’s as difficult a trophy as the one you’re going to win in sports, the Stanley Cup.
“But when it comes to bringing Americans together, whether they like hockey or not, the Olympics, an Olympic hockey player at this point against Canada, that’s as far as it can go.”
Matthew Tkachuk (19) of the United States celebrates after the United States defeated Canada in a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, February 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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Tkachuk would not confirm whether the team would be at the State of the Union, but suggested they would party in Miami on Monday night and then travel to Washington on Tuesday.
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