20 U.S. Olympic Hockey Players to Attend Trump’s State of the Union
Twenty members of the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team are set to attend the upcoming State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. This confirmation comes from a representative of USA Hockey. The players flew to Washington on a military jet after celebrating their gold medal victory in Miami.
Invitation from President Trump
The invitation for the State of the Union came during a postgame call with President Donald Trump. He congratulated the team for their win over Canada and extended an invite to both the address and a visit to the White House. Trump remarked, “We’ll do the White House the next day. We’ll just have some fun.”
Recent Achievements
The gold medal game took place in Milan on Sunday, with the NHL resuming its season shortly after on Wednesday. Some players chose not to attend the event in D.C.
- Kyle Connor from the Winnipeg Jets opted to practice instead of attending, focusing on the upcoming season.
- Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars returned to Texas and will miss both events in Washington.
- Brock Nelson of the Colorado Avalanche is expected to join his family in Denver.
- Jackson LaCombe of the Anaheim Ducks was traveling back to Southern California but plans to attend team activities shortly.
Women’s Team Absence
USA Hockey stated that the women’s team could not attend the State of the Union due to prior commitments. Their absence aligns with Kyle Connor’s comments about the whirlwind of events following their gold medal win.
Players’ Reactions
While some have chosen to focus on their NHL responsibilities, others are excited about attending the State of the Union. Defenseman Quinn Hughes expressed enthusiasm, saying it will be a unique experience. He noted that it’s not often one gets to participate in such an event.
The State of the Union will feature a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, ahead of Trump’s address at the Capitol. The players are scheduled to remain in Washington at least until the evening.
