Hellebuyck has no regrets over how he handled Olympic fallout Jets netminder just hopes to carry momentum from Milan into remainder of season
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Connor Hellebuyck insists he didn’t want to get political. But the Winnipeg Jets goaltender — fresh off leading the United States to a gold medal at the Olympics — finds himself at the centre of a storm for a series of events that have transpired since that magical moment in Milan.
Partying in the dressing room with FBI director Kash Patel. A controversial phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. And then visiting the White House, where he was awarded the Medal of Freedom while cosying up with a government that has, at times, put Canada in its crosshairs.
Connor Hellebuyck celebrates after the U.S.A. men's ice hockey team won the gold medal game against Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, last month. (AP Photo/)
“It’s crazy. Politics are crazy. But we’re hockey players. And we’re there representing our country and playing hockey, and making the country proud. So who cares about all that,” a fiery Hellebuyck said Friday as he was made available to Winnipeg media for the first time since returning from Italy.
“We were there to have fun and play hockey and we did that.”
Hellebuyck and his teammates were caught on camera laughing when Trump seemingly took a shot at the women’s team, which also won gold by beating Canada in overtime, by saying he should probably invite them to Washington or face being impeached. Among critics were U.S. captain Hilary Knight, who called the whole thing “distasteful.”
The Free Press asked Hellebuyck if he has any regrets for how he handled that situation.
“I guess that’s what everyone really wants to write about, right?” he replied.
“We were close with the girls’ team. We had a blast with them. We celebrated hard with them. No one was more proud of them than us. If that’s not enough for everyone to be happy, then I don’t know what is. I don’t know how many of those people have been watching their games or even tuned into their gold medal (game). But we were there.”
Does Hellebuyck feel like he and his teammates were used by Trump and company as political pawns, as many critics have suggested?
“That’s probably a better question for guys that are on social media and kind of felt the brunt of it. But the blowback that my wife (Andrea) was getting is just not fair. I don’t understand how she can take so much heat for just being with me as a hockey player,” said Hellebuyck.
“We’ve done nothing wrong, she’s done nothing wrong, my kids have done nothing wrong and everyone in my family is happy. So, I’m just going to continue living and moving on with my life and let that just fizzle out, because it always will.”
MIKE SUDOMA / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck spoke with the media for the first time since returning from the Olympics on Friday.
There was plenty of chatter on social media in the days that followed suggesting Hellebuyck might have worn out his welcome in Winnipeg and perhaps might even be greeted by jeers in his first game back, which happened last Tuesday night.
The reality turned out to be much different for the Michigan product, who is the reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner in the NHL.
“It just goes back to I’m a hockey player. I didn’t get booed when I got back. That shows a lot from our fan base. The majority of the conversations I’ve had with people since being back have been, ‘You beat our team, but we’re so happy for you.’ And that’s kind of what I would expect,” said Hellebuyck.
“This fan base and I have grown so close over the years, and we’ve done so many great things together, they know that I’m doing everything that I can for them. And when I achieve some personal things along the way, it doesn’t have to just be, ‘Oh, look what you did.’ It’s, ‘We got to experience this all together.’”
Hellebuyck was certainly not going to apologize for receiving his nation’s highest civilian honour. He joins the likes of Babe Ruth, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and about 40 other athletes to have received the distinction from various presidents over the years.
“These moments are really going to make a lifetime and a career for me. And receiving that highest honour is something I’ll be so proud of,” said Hellebuyck.
“And as I get older I can show my kids this is where I was and this is what we achieved. And then I’m coming back here and I want to bring that same joy here, and I think everyone understands that. I think that’s why I didn’t get booed and I still got cheered. They know that I still care about the city and I want them to feel exactly how I just felt.”
Which brings us to the present. Hellebuyck is now hoping to carry the momentum from Milan into the stretch drive for the Jets, who head into action on Saturday night against Vancouver seven points back of the final Western Conference wild-card spot, which is held by Seattle. Both teams have 21 games left.
“We’ve been getting some points, winning some games, so it’s been fun,” said Hellebuyck, who stopped 26 shots in Thursday’s 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning which gives Winnipeg points in all five games (3-0-2) since the Olympic break.
“When you’re at the Olympics, you’re kind of in a bubble. You really don’t see what’s going on in the outside world and the impact it’s having. But as it ended and time wore on, you could see the impact it was making. I felt very connected to my country. And then coming back here, I would love to bring that joy here. And I think that’s now my next goal, is make everyone here enjoy that same 72 hours that I had.”
Jets head coach Scott Arniel is banking on it while also applauding his MVP for the way he’s handled the past couple weeks.
“It got real personal, not just with him, but with his family, with his wife. And that’s the stuff that’s out of bounds for me, and that’s the part that really, really, really upset him. I think he’s handled it well,” said Arniel.
“We saw the reception the other night when he started the first game back. And I think that everybody in this city, in this province, deep down, that they know what he’s done and what he means to us, our ultimate goal is to still win the Stanley Cup. And we’re winning it with Connor Hellebuyck, that’s the answer.”
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Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike.
Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
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