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NEWARK, NJ – It’s been a long few days for Buffalo Sabers star Tage Thompson. He scored a critical goal for Team USA in the team’s semifinal game against Slovakia, then went on to help the U.S. defeat Canada on Sunday to capture the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Thompson admitted after Wednesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo’s first NHL game since the Olympic break, that he was tired, rusty and sluggish on the ice. But most fans wouldn’t know. Thompson scored Buffalo’s first goal of the night and assisted on the second as the Sabers emerged with a 2-1 victory over the Devils.
New Jersey Devils’ Jack Hughes, right, and Buffalo Sabres’ Tage Thompson gesture to fans before an NHL hockey game in Newark, New Jersey, on February 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Jack Hughes, a Devils star and the Team USA skater who scored the game-winning goal in overtime to defeat Canada, was honored by the team during a pregame ceremony. Hughes made an incredibly stylish move, bringing Thompson out to center ice for the crowd to cheer the pair on.
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Still, as impressive as Thompson’s return to the ice was, much of the media story following Team USA’s historic gold medal win revolved around the team’s trip to the White House and appearance during Tuesday’s State of the Union address by President Trump.
White House Visit, MAGA Hat Photo Spark Backlash
Thompson, in particular, found himself in the crosshairs of the radical left-wing media mob because he was photographed wearing Trump’s famous “Make America Great Again” hat with press secretary Karoline Leavitt and several teammates.
Karoline Leavitt shared a photo on social media where she posed with vice director of communications Margo Martin and several members of Team USA. The photo included Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman, Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, Jack and Quinn Hughes and Buffalo Sabers forward Tage Thompson. Both Hughes brothers wore red and white USA hats, while Thompson wore a “Make America Great Again” hat, prompting widespread backlash on social media. (Karoline Leavitt via Instagram)
I asked Thompson after the game if he had any response to the criticism of his hat choice.
“I’m proud to be an American, and I have my own beliefs, my own beliefs, and everybody’s entitled to their own opinions and beliefs, too,” Thompson said diplomatically as he sat at his locker after the game. “I think we should be able to live in peace, knowing that not everyone will agree with you.”
Speaking of Thompson’s faith, I also asked him about his Christian faith, which helped shape everything in his life.
“Jesus is everything to me. Obviously we’re made imperfect. We’re all sinners and we need him. And I fall short every single day and he’s the one I trust,” Thompson said.
Buffalo Sabres’ Tage Thompson (72) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils in Newark, New Jersey on February 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
“I think when you have that sense of hope, that grace and that mercy that I receive every day from him is something that gives me peace and joy in life no matter what I do. And he’s blessed me with this game and this opportunity to play the game that I love at a high level, a beautiful family and friends, people around me that I love. And I’m just very grateful.”
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I believe American hockey fans can confidently say they are grateful to Tage Thompson and all the players on Team USA’s men’s hockey team who helped deliver one of the most monumental gold medals in US Winter Olympic history.
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