After clinching gold at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Jake Guentzel is taking a breather, focusing on recovery and spending time with family.
The 31-year-old Lightning forward mentioned on Wednesday that he didn’t reject an invitation to visit the White House as part of Team USA’s celebratory tour following their thrilling victory over Canada but opted to return home due to a demanding schedule ahead.
“The timing was actually pretty good for me and my family,” he shared with reporters. “I didn’t turn down the chance to go. It felt like a dream come true, especially since I was lucky enough to visit in 2017.” That was when Mr. Trump was in office.
Guentzel, who previously visited the White House after winning the Stanley Cup with the Penguins, is currently in his second season with Tampa Bay, leading the Atlantic Division with 78 points.
“With lots of competitions lined up for the rest of the year, it seemed wise to take a two-week break post-Olympics to rest, recover, and enjoy some family time before diving back in,” Guentzel explained.
He scored once in Milan, marking a successful debut at the Winter Olympics.
Teammate Jack Hughes netted the decisive goal in an exhilarating overtime match, helping the U.S. secure its first men’s ice hockey gold since 1980 with a 2-1 victory.
The Gold medalist team reached South Florida on Monday, and 20 players, including Guentzel, traveled to Washington, D.C., the following day to meet with President Trump and attend the State of the Union address. Notably absent from the visit were Guentzel and fellow players Kyle Connor, Jake Oettinger, Jackson Lacombe, and Brock Nelson.
The NHL season resumes on Wednesday, with Guentzel and the Lightning set to host the Maple Leafs. So far this season, Guentzel has recorded 26 goals and 34 assists across 55 games.
