Secretary of War Pete Hegseth praises Connor Hellebuyck after victory

After watching Team USA defeat Canada in the Olympics men’s hockey gold medal game, United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth awarded the former title to American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

Hellebuyck collected 41 saves to help tie the game 1-1, forcing overtime. Jack Hughes ultimately scored the game-winning goal past Canada’s netminder Jordan Binnington.

One of Hellebuyck’s saves saw him somehow stop Devon Toews’ shot from just in front of his line with just his stick, turning quickly with his right hand to stop the puck and tie the game in the second period. Without this save and others, the outcome might have been different.

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A social media account called Hellebuyck “Secretary of Defense” and Hegseth, who held that title before the agency he headed was renamed the Department of War last September, approved the appointment.

“We now have a Minister of War… and a Minister of Defense!” Hegseth said in the post, which showcased Hellebuyck’s incredible efforts:

CONNOR HELLEBUYCK’S MIRACLE STICK HELPED SAVE TEAM USA’S FIRST OLYMPIC HOCKEY GOLD SINCE 1980

Hegseth was one of many who showed American pride when the United States defeated Canada; He was unable to capitalize on some of Hellebuyck’s A-grade chances; Co-captain Nathan MacKinnon also missed an open net in the third period.

To make the save for Toews, the Canadian Colorado Avalanche star lifted the puck slightly so that Hellebuyck’s shovel would block the save. The score was 1-1 at the time and it remained that way until the end of the second period and into the third period before overtime was needed.

Connor Hellebuyck of Team USA saves a shot by Devon Toews #7 of Team Canada in the third period during the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the USA on day 16 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

“This is a dream come true,” Hellebuyck said after the game, via NBC. “We worked hard, we competed, and it was some of the best and most fun hockey I’ve ever played.”

Hellebuyck, 32, scored on Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar in the second period, but made consecutive saves after the game was tied to give his team a chance at victory.

After the game, Hellebuyck skated alone across the ice with the American flag on his back, and the crowd applauded him.

U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck celebrates winning the gold medal during the Ice Hockey Men’s Gold Medal Match match between Canada and the United States on the sixteenth day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Andrea Branca/Eurasia Sport Images)

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In a historic Milan Cortina Games for the USA, the men’s and women’s hockey teams return home with gold

The USA finished with 33 total medals, including a record 12 golds at the Winter Olympics.

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