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The nickname “Secretary of Defense” seems to be sticking with Team USA goalie Connor Hellebuyck after he was spotted with a cute plaque while flying to Washington DC to meet President Donald Trump in the Oval Office ahead of his State of the Union address.
Hellebuyck and many 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 netminder wearing a light blue plaque with a bald eagle and “Secretary of Defense” written across the top.
Hellebuyck was all smiles, holding his Olympic gold medal in front of him.
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Connor Hellebuyck of Team United saves the shot taken by Devon Toews #7 of Team Canada during the third period during the men’s gold medal game between Canada and the United States on Day 16 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
After the nickname started circulating on social media following his incredible 41-save performance on Sunday in the 2-1 overtime win against Team Canada, Minister of War Pete Hegseth loved it.
“Now we have a Minister of War … and a Minister of Defense!” Hegseth said over the post, showing Hellebuyck’s now-iconic stick save on Devon Toews’ third-period shot that would have broken the 1-1 tie at the time.
Hegseth held the title of Secretary of Defense before the agency became known as the War Department last September. The DOW Rapid Response X site saw Larkin’s post on his Instagram story and broadcast it to the masses as well.
“AMERICA’S SECRETARY OF DEFENSE!” post read.
Hegseth was one of many to show American pride as the U.S. downed Canada, which failed to capitalize on some Grade-A chances on Hellebuyck, including assistant captain Nathan MacKinnon missing an open net in the third period.
“It’s a dream come true,” Hellebuyck said via NBC after the game. “We grinded, we battled, and this was some of the best and most fun hockey I’ve ever played.”
Hellebuyck helped the United States make history as the first team since the “Miracle on Ice” squad of 1980 to win Olympic gold. Jack Hughes scored the overtime goal to strike gold in Milan, and it’s been a celebration ever since for Team USA.
Connor Hellebuyck of Team United celebrates a 2-1 overtime win against Canada for the gold medal during the men’s gold medal game between Canada and the United States on Day 16 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
It was the same result the U.S. women’s hockey team had just days before Hughes’ goal, when 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 on Tuesday, citing scheduling conflicts due to “academic and professional commitments.”
Trump told the men’s team after inviting them to Tuesday’s State of the Union that he would “have to” invite the women’s team or I would probably be impeached.
When 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 the women’s performance.
Members of the men’s hockey team were on hand for the women’s gold medal win, including Hughes, who said after his own heroics that he thought about Keller’s goal immediately afterward as he celebrated with his teammates.
USA pride was also on full display in Milan, where Hellebuyck skated around the ice alone with an American flag on his back as the crowd roared its approval.
Larkin and Zach Werenski also appeared on Pakinomist Channel’s “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning, hours after the team’s Miami celebration at E11EVEN MIAMI nightclub, where they talked about representing the country at the Olympics.
Connor Hellebuyck of the United States celebrates after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026. (David W Cerny/Reuters via Imagn Images)
“I think a lot of us played in the U.S. National Team Development Program… When we were there, you get to put the jersey on every day for two years before you get drafted. We go through training. We’re not military by any means, but they put us through some training and they really instill some pride in you,” Larkin explained. “Once you go 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: “You’re reminded of how great America is when you come back here. And we love representing our country, we love wearing these colors.”
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