In the midst of political discussions, players from the Olympic gold medal-winning men’s and women’s hockey teams came together on “Saturday Night Live.” This came after a public spat following President Trump’s comments during his State of the Union address, where he called upon the men’s team after their gold medal win over Canada. He joked about potential impeachment if he failed to invite the women, which sparked backlash, particularly from liberal circles in both the U.S. and Canada. The men’s team found humor in the situation.
On SNL, female players Hilary Knight and Megan Keller joined male players Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes to poke fun at the ongoing debate. Knight seemed to echo Trump’s remark, saying, “It was going to be just us, but we thought we’d invite the players as well.” Quinn noted that the men last won gold in 1980, to which Knight quipped about the women’s victory two years prior at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games. Jack Hughes emphasized that the gold medal belongs to all hockey fans, not just their team.
Connor Story, known for his role in “Heated Rivalry,” hosted the episode, while various media outlets critiqued the men’s team for laughing off the jokes and their visit to the White House during Trump’s address. In an interview on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” Hughes expressed his admiration for McAfee, and when addressing the controversy, he clarified their close relationship with the women’s team. “We were at their games, and they were at ours,” he says.
Hughes reflected on the enthusiasm he felt watching the women’s gold medal game and how their entire team supported the women’s accomplishments, expressing pride in their shared success.
Jack Hughes reminisced about a bonding moment with Keller post-game. “I hugged her really hard and said, ‘I’m so happy. I’m so proud of you,'” he recalled, highlighting the camaraderie between the teams. A few days later, after another interaction, he noted their excitement continued to grow.
U.S. women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight spoke on ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” voicing her discomfort over Trump’s jokes, suggesting they overshadow the remarkable achievements of women in the sport. “That overshadowed the success of being the only woman on the U.S. team at the Olympics,” Knight commented.
She emphasized their commitment to celebrating the women’s contributions and the extraordinary achievements of both the men’s and women’s teams, asserting that they won’t let offensive comments detract from their triumphs.
Hughes’ mother, Ellen, a former Team USA player, noted that teamwork and unity are at the forefront of the athletes’ goals. “It’s all about bringing the players together,” she said, emphasizing the importance of cohesion among the group.
