Team USA Star Connor Hellebuyck Earns Immense Honor From Trump
Connor Hellebuyck put Team USA on his back during the gold medal match, helping deliver them the win. As a result, President Donald Trump has rewarded him. The goaltender has been given the Medal of Freedom, the highest possible honor for a non-military civilian to receive.
Connor Hellebuyck given Medal of Freedom
A lot of controversy surrounded President Trump's invitation to the State of the Union. He called Team USA and invited them to come celebrate at the speech after their victory over Canada, and he mocked the women's team, who had also won gold, in the same call.
The women did not attend, but the men did. And at the State of the Union, among so many things, Trump awarded Connor Hellebuyck the Medal of Freedom. According to the president, not a single person was against this.
"Great athletes have gotten that, very great, the best," Trump said during his speech with members of Team USA in the audience. "I thought he deserved it. I did take a vote -- every single one of them. I said, 'I'm not giving it if anybody goes "no,''' and every single one of them rapidly put up their hand. So, I want to thank you all. What a special job you did. What special champions you are."
ESPN's report couldn't be certain, but it is believed that Hellebuyck is the first hockey player to win the award. This would make a lot of sense. America is not a hockey country. It took them 46 years to win another gold medal, and the 1980 team was a ragtag group of players who defied unbelievable odds to win.
They didn't have the talent this team had, and they didn't necessarily have a standout like Hellebuyck. Otherwise, hockey in the United States has long been a bit of an afterthought, so if no other athlete has received this honor, it would not be a surprise.
Why the goalie earned the Medal of Freedom
Connor Hellbucyk almost literally dragged Team USA to the gold. He was outstanding all tournament long, but he really played well against Canada. Facing the best attack in the sport, led by Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, Nate MacKinnon, Macklin Celebrini, Sam Bennett, and Mitch Marner, he went 41/42 on save opportunities.
Not only did he save so many shots, but the saves were of outstanding degree of difficulty. He blocked a wide-open net shot from Devon Toews right outside the goalie area with his stick. He saved a few breakaway shot attempts from Canada's frontline that looked like surefire goals.
"It's going to go down as one of the best performances of all time -- it has to," Matthew Tkachuk said of his goaltender. "Right up there with Jimmy Craig [in 1980], all the great United States goaltenders. In the NHL, whatever type of hockey, whatever goaltending performance you want to talk about, that's right up there."
Dylan Larkin added, "That guy should never buy a drink in [his home] state of Michigan ever again." Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal, said Hellebuyck was the best player on the ice in his postgame interview.
Matt Boldy, who scored the opener on a fantastic two-on-one opportunity, echoed that. "He was our best player by a mile," Boldy said. "He's an absolute stud. He wants to be in those moments. He wants to make the saves. And he did just that, so he was definitely our MVP."
Hellebuyck has won the Hart Trophy for best goalie twice in a row in the NHL. Last year, he was also named the NHL MVP, becoming the first goalie since Cary Price over a decade ago to do so.
