Hellebuyck Embraces ‘Secretary of Defense’ Nickname

Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has taken on a new title—“Secretary of Defense”—after a memorable moment on his trip to Washington, D.C. This happened as he was heading to meet President Trump at the Oval Office before the State of the Union address.

Hellebuyck, along with several teammates, traveled to the capital via Air Force transport. Dylan Larkin even shared a picture of him sporting a plaque that read “Secretary of Defense,” all while holding a bald eagle. It was a light-hearted moment before Hellebuyck celebrated winning an Olympic gold medal.

After an impressive 41-save performance in a 2-1 overtime victory against Canada, it seems Army Secretary Pete Hegseth became fond of the nickname, which began trending on social media. “Now we have a Secretary of Army… and a Secretary of Defense!” he remarked on social media, referencing a particularly memorable save by Hellebuyck that kept the game tied.

Interestingly, Hegseth held a similar title before the Department of the Army was renamed just a few months ago. The excitement didn’t stop there, as an Instagram post declared, “America’s Secretary of Defense!” It was a proud moment for the U.S. team when they overcame Canada, especially given some missed opportunities for Team Canada during the match.

After the gold medal game, Hellebuyck spoke about his experience, describing it as “a dream come true,” and reflected on how much fun he had playing in such high-stakes hockey.

This Olympic win marked the first gold for the U.S. since the renowned 1980 Miracle on Ice team, with Jack Hughes scoring the deciding goal in Milan. Since then, Team USA has been celebrating their victory.

Interestingly, this victory mirrored the performance of the U.S. women’s hockey team, which secured gold just days earlier. However, the women’s team turned down an invitation from President Trump to attend the State of the Union due to prior commitments.

Trump joked that the women’s team “must be invited” or face possible impeachment, leading to some laughter from the men’s team. Yet, the remark stirred some controversy regarding the president’s acknowledgment of the women’s achievements.

Mentioning the women’s team, Hughes, who had been present at their gold medal celebration, recalled the excitement when they clinched their win. The pride was evident when Hellebuyck skated around the rink with the American flag draped on his back, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Both Larkin and Zach Werenski appeared on “Fox & Friends” after a lively celebration in Miami, expressing their pride in representing the United States during the Olympics. Larkin reflected on their past experiences in the U.S. National Team Development Program and how it instilled a deep sense of pride in wearing the jersey. “You take the jersey off…and you don’t know if you’re going to put it on next,” he shared.

Werenski added, “Coming back here, I’m reminded of how great the United States is. We love to represent it.”