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President Donald Trump spoke to the US men’s hockey team and invited them to his State of the Union address following their gold medal win 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 secured a gold medal.
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USA 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 who wanted us to bring home as many gold medals as we can. We are certainly honored to represent him and the hundreds of millions across the country and to bring back a gold medal.”
The Florida Panthers star was also asked how winning a gold medal compared to winning the Stanley Cup.
USA’s Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates after the USA defeated Canada in a men’s ice hockey gold medal match between Canada and the USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Tkachuk and the Panthers are back-to-back reigning Stanley Cup champions. He pointed out that the biggest difference was what the victory meant for the country as a whole.
“It’s almost more meaningful to everybody else in the sense that it’s a way to unite the whole country,” he said. “When you go through the two-month game and the 82-game NHL season, you don’t compare it. It’s as tough a trophy as 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 the time against Canada, that’s as high as it’s going to get.”
USA’s Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates after the USA defeated Canada in a men’s ice hockey gold medal match between Canada and the USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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Tkachuk did not confirm whether the team will be at the State of the Union, but suggested they will party in Miami on Monday night and then head to DC on Tuesday.
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