Fresh off backstopping Team USA to a historic Olympic gold medal, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is set to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, President Donald Trump announced during Tuesday night’s State of the Union address.
Hellebuyck, who plays for the Winnipeg Jets, delivered a stellar performance during the 2026 Winter Olympics — including 41 saves in the gold‑medal win over Canada — solidifying himself as one of the NHL’s top goaltenders. His heroics helped secure the first U.S. men’s hockey gold since the famed 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”
