Governor Mikie Sherrill Booed at Devils Game
During a New Jersey Devils game at the Prudential Center on Wednesday, Governor Mikie Sherrill faced considerable booing from the crowd. The occasion coincided with the return of Jack Hughes, a standout Olympic athlete who scored the decisive goal in the gold medal game against Canada on Sunday.
Sherrill attended to celebrate Hughes and other Olympians, but after the public announcement of the ceremonial puck drop, the Newark crowd expressed their discontent towards her and her husband, Jason Hedberg, with loud boos.
Despite the backlash, Sherrill shared social media updates featuring photos of herself with Hughes and fellow athletes, celebrating their gold victories. Critics quickly pointed out the negative reception she received. One user noted, “You managed to get a lot of boos during the biggest event in rock history.” Another remarked, “Didn’t everyone boo you?”
Sherrill has faced ongoing criticism since her 2025 election campaign. It has since come to light that she missed the Naval Academy’s graduation ceremony due to a disciplinary issue involving a cadet who stole exam answers in a challenging electrical engineering course.
In response to the criticism, Sherrill minimized her involvement, saying, “Some of my classmates didn’t file, so they graduated without walking, were commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy, and served for nearly a decade with the highest levels of honor.” This week, the Justice Department also filed a lawsuit alleging that New Jersey and Sherrill obstructed federal immigration enforcement by expanding sanctuary policies through new executive orders.
Nevertheless, the excitement for Hughes and his fellow Olympians remained undeterred. Before the puck drop against the Buffalo Sabres, the Devils recognized all Olympians from 2026 onward, and Hughes received the loudest cheers from the audience as they chanted “USA!”
Hughes, visibly emotional, addressed the crowd, expressing his pride in representing the U.S. teams that earned gold. “I’m very proud and very happy that the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams brought home gold to the United States,” he said. “You guys are making me emotional, but I’m so proud to represent the New Jersey Devils organization. And so proud to represent the great state of New Jersey.”
He extended his gratitude to his teammates, stating, “To all my teammates, my U.S. teammates, I want to sincerely thank you for your love and support. We feel it.”
