U.S. women’s hockey team ‘not surprised’ by Trump call; feel support from men’s Olympic team

Some reactions from the women’s side on the saga that has carried over from the final day of the Winter Olympics.

As many players from the United States women’s hockey team returned to their respective PWHL teams on Wednesday, many were asked about their feelings on how the men’s team reacted to the now-infamous phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump after the team’s gold-medal win over Canada this past Sunday.

Many players, like Seattle Torrent captain Hilary Knight, noted that the two teams were very close during their time in Milan, despite some of the reaction around the game.

“I think there’s a genuine level of support there and respect,” Knight said in an interview on ESPN’s SportsCenter. “I think that’s being overshadowed by sort of a quick lapse…I think the guys were in a tough spot. So, it’s a shame that this storyline and narrative has kind of blown up and overshadowing that connection.”

Minnesota Frost forward Kelly Pannek also debunked the notion that the women’s team was disrespected by the men’s squad.

“I think that’s something we all know, being there, what it felt like to have their support throughout the tournament,” Pannek said. “To support them, and how great a moment it was for everyone that was a fan of both teams to come together and say how great it was… It really was such a special feeling being there, even being able to spend the time with them after their win and the respect that they were showing us.”

Frost forward Taylor Heise revealed that a few men’s players actually celebrated the women’s gold medal win last Thursday in the locker room.

“I remember we were sitting in the, I want to say training room,” Heise said. “They gave us props, and they obviously left us some beers in the fridge…super nice about it. … We have major respect for them. At the end of the day, it’s hockey, and we try to keep politics out of it.”

On the phone call on Sunday, Trump invited the men’s team to the White House and asked them to attend the State of the Union address on Tuesday night. He also went out of his way to inform the team that he would be inviting the women’s team as well.

“I must tell you,” Trump said. “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that? … I do believe I probably would be impeached.”

The reaction from the players included some awkward laughter. It led to backlash from fans and critics in the days that followed. Players like Jack Hughes, Jeremy Swayman and captain Auston Matthews have stated that they all had a very good relationship with the women’s team throughout the Winter Games, with the video getting taken out of context.

Per Michael Russo of The Athletic, Heise said that some of the men’s players have reached out to members of the women’s teams and apologized, both publicly and privately.

Pannek did make a note about what might’ve been said on the phone, held by a beer-drinking Kash Patel, the FBI director.

“I think the video is what it is,” Pannek said. “There’s also elements to it, with the phone call, specifically…It’s not surprising, to be frank. So, I don’t know why we expect differently.”

The women’s team declined Trump’s eventual invitation to Washington, D.C., “due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.”