Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy addressed the widespread backlash that Team USA men’s hockey team have received in the last few days. It all started after a clip of their locker room reaction to President Donald Trump comment after the Olympic gold medal win went viral.
Trump had congratulated the team after its 2-1 overtime win against Canada. However, later on in the call, Trump joked about also having to invite the U.S. women’s team to the White House as they too had claimed gold at the games.
“I must tell you, we’re gonna have to bring the women’s team, you do know that?” Trump said. “I do believe that I would probably be impeached [if the women’s team was not invited].”
Speaking to the media days after the national men’s hockey team’s win, McAvoy said he regretted how the moment unfolded.
“I think, you know, just certainly sorry for how we responded to it in that moment,” McAvoy said. “You know, things that just happened really quick there.
“And if you know the men’s team and if you know the relationships that we have, the amount of time that we’ve spent, you know, with the women’s team and how we’ve supported them, it’s certainly not reflective of how we feel and look at them and their accomplishments. What they did was unbelievable.”
McAvoy noted that the men’s and women’s teams had built a strong bond during their time together at the Olympic Village. He noted they shared space on the same floor and spent time together in common areas.
McAvoy added that the women’s dominance deserved praise and that Americans should feel proud of their accomplishment.
“I’m pretty confident they know how I feel about them and what they’ve been able to accomplish, and, you know, the way that they did it, too, with how dominant they played,” McAvoy said. “I think America should be so proud of them for their accomplishment, for sure.”
The controversy created debate across social media platforms. Some criticized the players’ reaction, while others defended the team and pointed to the emotions of the moment, calling it light.
The Controversy Overshadowed Team USA’s Undefeated Run in the 2026 Olympics
Team USA completed a dominant run at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Americans defeated Canada in overtime to capture their first men’s hockey gold since 1980. Matt Boldy opened the scoring in the final, and Jack Hughes sealed it at 1:41 of overtime. Connor Hellebuyck made 41 saves to secure the victory.
The United States went unbeaten through group play with wins over Latvia, Denmark, and Germany. The team edged Sweden in overtime in the quarterfinals and beat Slovakia in the semifinals. Tight games tested the roster, but the group responded under pressure.
In the end, the US men’s team delivered when it mattered most. However, what was a historic win has now since been overshadowed by the raging controversy that has followed.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in golf, hockey, baseball, tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
