Jack Hughes defends Team USA men’s support for women’s hockey team
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Team USA Olympic hockey hero Jack Hughes spoke about his support for his country’s women’s hockey team; after his team faced backlash for laughing at President Donald Trump’s joke about the women’s team.
During an interview on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday, Hughes expressed his respect for the women’s team after McAfee referenced the controversy by joking that Hughes and his teammates “hated” female players.
“We hung out with the women’s team so much. We were rooting for them. We were at their games, they were at our games,” Hughes said.
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Jack Hughes of the United States celebrates after winning the gold medal against Canada at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games in Milan, Italy on February 22, 2026. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Hughes then addressed recent criticism for his team’s response to Trump’s joke.
“With all these people talking, how many of them watched the gold medal game? Me and Quinn Hughes were at the game. We were at the game until overtime ended, and we were so excited for these girls, so excited for them to win,” Hughes said.
“So how many of those people watched the gold medal game, watched the semifinal game? Like, 10 of our 10 players went to the round-robin game. Like, we supported them a lot and we’re very proud of them. We’re very happy that they won and they brought back the gold medal, and you know, the men’s and women’s team both brought back the gold medal. I mean, it’s incredible for USA hockey.”
Hughes, who won the gold medal by scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against Canada, described her interaction with player Megan Keller, who did the same thing on the U.S. women’s team.
“Me and her had a great moment in the cafeteria after the gold medal game. The next night we played Slovakia and it was like a late game. Me and Megan were in the pasta line. They were getting ready to go out again and I gave her a big hug and said, ‘I’m so happy for you. I’m so proud of you,'” Hughes said.
“I saw him again a few nights later [cafeteria]”We took a great photo and she gave me a big hug and was so excited for me too.”
Hughes told reporters after the game that the first thing she thought of when the puck went in was Keller, who had scored the U.S. women’s team’s golden goal against Canada three days earlier.
US WOMEN’S HOCKEY GOLD MEDALITOR SAYS IT’S ‘SAD’ THAT THE MEN’S TEAM HAD TO APOLOGIZE DUE TO THE OLYMPIC CONVERSATION
The controversy surrounding the men’s team stemmed from a phone call between the players and Trump in the locker room immediately after the gold medal win against Canada.
Trump said after inviting the men’s team to Tuesday’s meeting. State of the Union He said he would “have to” invite the women’s team or “I would probably be dismissed.” The team laughed at this, sparking a massive backlash.
Many mainstream media outlets wrote columns condemning the men’s team laughing at the joke and then visiting the White House to celebrate and Trump’s State of the Union address.
Jack Hughes (86) of the United States, who scored the winning goal in overtime, celebrates after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal match at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on February 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
U.S. women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight said she was “overshadowed” by Trump’s “tasteless joke” on Wednesday’s edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”[ed]”Women’s success.
“I thought it was a sick joke, and unfortunately it overshadows a lot of accomplishments, it overshadows the accomplishments of women competing for Team USA in the Olympics and having amazing gold medal accomplishments,” Knight said.
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“We just focus on celebrating the women in our room, their incredible efforts, and we continue to celebrate the three gold medals in program history, as well as the double gold for both the men and women at the same time. And we really don’t overshadow that with a nasty joke.”
Hughes’ mother, Ellen, A former Team USA player and current player development staff member said players only care about “bringing it.”[ing] “Too much unity for one group and one country.”
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