Jets' Connor skips White House, Hellebuyck to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
Two Winnipeg Jets stars were on opposite sides of the border on Tuesday, ahead of the team's return from the Olympic break. Kyle Connor chose to stay with the Jets, skipping the White House event with his U.S. men's hockey teammates, while goaltender Connor Hellebuyck remained in the U.S. and attended President Donald Trump's State of the Union address.
Trump announced that Hellebuyck, who made 41 saves in the gold-medal victory against Canada on Sunday, would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. Hellebuyck's performance, including a crucial desperation save, earned him a round of applause and a heart-tapping gesture from the crowd.
Kyle Connor, who only played two games during the Winter Olympics, praised Hellebuyck's outstanding performance, stating, 'Watching him have the game of his life was incredible. He was fantastic, and being a part of it was an unforgettable experience.'
The U.S. men's hockey team, after their gold-medal win, visited the White House, posing for photos and flashing their medals. This marked their first gold medal in men's hockey since the 'Miracle on Ice' in 1980. However, the team faced backlash for their call with Trump, and the women's hockey team declined Trump's invite to attend the State of the Union.
Back in Winnipeg, the Jets are gearing up for the NHL stretch run. With 26 games remaining, they are currently 11 points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The team's schedule is packed, with just 51 days to play the remaining games. Backup goalie Eric Comrie is set to start Wednesday's game against the Canucks, while Hellebuyck will return to the crease on Friday when the Jets face the Anaheim Ducks.
The Jets will also be without defenseman Josh Morrissey, who is returning from an undisclosed injury suffered in Canada's opening game. The team hopes Hellebuyck's Olympic success will boost their performance, as captain Adam Lowry noted, 'The confidence he has in himself doesn't waver. Knowing his game is at an elite level, I expect he can carry that over to our team.'
The story concludes with a mention of the Canadian police warning a Sikh activist of a threat to their life and the sale of a popular stuffed orangutan from IKEA, which has been sold out in stores.
