White House trolls Canada in spicy post-script to fiery Olympic ice hockey final won by USA

USA President Donald Trump called and congratulated the elated USA men's ice hockey team after their victory in the gold-medal match against Canada at the Milano Cortina Olympics.

As star centre Jack Hughes scored an overtime goal to beat their rivals 2-1, the hotly contested final on Monday (AEDT) earned the USA their third men’s title at the Games.

It's also the nation's first Olympic men's ice hockey gold since the 'Miracle on Ice' in 1980, a total of 46 years to the day of the upset over the Soviet Union.

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Trump also posted on his social media about the long-awaited Olympic win, posting, "Congratulations to our great U.S.A. Ice Hockey team. THEY WON THE GOLD. WOW! President DONALD J. TRUMP."

"(Trump) just spoke to the group expressing how proud he was of the group and congratulating everybody on the win. Obviously this game, in a lot of ways, was an inspiration to our country," coach Mike Sullivan told reporters after the game.

"I think, from a viewership standpoint in the United States, there were a lot of people paying attention, the president included."

It was reported that Trump invited the team to the State of the Union speech, which Trump is scheduled to give on Wednesday (AEDT) at the United States Capitol.

Team captain Auston Matthews did not confirm whether the team would visit Trump before the resumption of the NHL season on Wednesday, and he told reporters: "I think there's a lot of moving parts as far as our travels back home. We'll see what happens."

"We're all proud Americans, obviously," Matthews added.

"This is a huge moment for us, a huge moment for the United States. (Trump) called. Just congratulated us … It's an honour to wear this jersey and represent the U.S.

"To go home with a gold medal, you know how much that means to guys in this room, to people watching and rooting us on, too."

The women's side also came out on top in the Milano Cortina Olympics, victorious over a lacking Canadian team without their trailblazing star, Marie Phillip Poulin.

The White House's X account reposted a celebratory post from the official USA Hockey account and added, "We are so back. Red, white and blue running through our veins."

There is no indication that Trump reached out to members of the women's team.

There was a hint of sadness amid all the joy as Werenski, Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk carried a Johnny Gaudreau No.13 jersey around the ice as the latest tribute to the beloved player who was killed along with his brother in 2024.

Gaudreau's parents, Guy and Jay, his widow, Meredith, and their oldest children were in attendance.

It was John junior's second birthday and he was brought on the ice with older sister Noa for the team photo.

“He was so near and dear to us,” Brady Tkachuk said of the player known as 'Johnny Hockey'.

"We did it for him.”

Unlike that ragtag group of college kids that pulled off one of the biggest shockers in sports history, the Americans in Milan were a machine that rode goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and a roster full of NHL players through the tournament unbeaten.

Still, they were underdogs again against the stacked Canadians and came out on top.

“This is all about our country right now,” said Hughes, who lost at least one and maybe two of his front teeth taking a high stick during the game.

“I love the USA. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable. The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong.”

Hughes' goal off the rush off a pass from Zach Werenski 1:41 into three-on-three overtime sent players into a wild celebration as Canada's entire team watched from the bench.

Hellebuyck was by far the best player on the ice, stopping 41 of the 42 shots he faced as Canada tilted the ice toward him. He made the save of the tournament by getting his stick on the puck on a shot from Devon Toews in the third period, then minutes later denied Macklin Celebrini on a breakaway — something he also did to Connor McDavid earlier.

"Unbelievable game by Hellebuyck," Hughes said. “He was our best player by a mile.”

It was only fitting the Americans needed to go through Canada, their northern neighbour that beat them at the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago and has won every international competition over the past 16 years that featured the world's best players.

Not anymore.

Winning a fast-paced, riveting game that was full of big hits and plenty of post-whistle altercations, the US got a goal from Matt Boldy six minutes in and led until Cale Makar tied it late in the second period. Hellebuyck and the penalty kill was a perfect 18 for 18 at the Olympics.

“I can’t even believe this,” Hughes said. “I mean it’s such an unbelievable game, USA-Canada. Such a good game. There’s so many great players. We’re a great team. That’s exactly how we wanted it to go. We’re underdogs to Canada, (but we) beat them. It could have gone either way.”

Hughes paid a painful price when he took the high stick and wound up face down on the ice.

The teeth were out, but the celebration wasn't far away.

“More people are going to be looking at his medal than his teeth,” winger Matt Boldy said.

The US finally came through after generations of churning out talent from the grassroots level like a production line. All but two of the 25 players on the team went through USA Hockey’s national team development program.

That group of 23 includes captain Matthews, the top line of both Tkachuk brothers and Jack Eichel, and the second set of brothers, Jack and Quinn Hughes.

Much of the team played together either at the program, under-18s, the world junior championship or some combination of them.

The US winning silenced criticism of general manager Bill Guerin and his management group choosing a roster full of experienced, veteran players to fill specific roles and leaving four of the top 10 American goal-scorers in the NHL this season at home.

Some decisions were no-doubters, like coach Mike Sullivan giving the net to Hellebuyck.

Canada, back-to-back Olympic champions in 2010 and ’14 and winners of three of the first five, fell short while playing without injured captain Sidney Crosby.

The 38-year-old two-time gold medallist and three-time Stanley Cup champion left the quarter-final game against Czechia and sat out the semi-final game against Finland.

McDavid, who wore the 'c' in Crosby’s absence, suffered another devastating defeat on the doorstep of a title.

He and the Edmonton Oilers have lost to Matthew Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final each of the past two years.