‘The players just had the President on, I don’t know what it was, what do you call it, FaceTime, whatever, in the locker room,’ coach Mike Sullivan said on Sunday. ‘He just spoke to the group, expressing how proud he was of the group and congratulating everybody on the win.’
During the locker room call with the team, President Trump invited the players to the State of the Union address and said they could tour the White House. He offered to transport the team on a military plane. In the midst of his conversation with the men’s hockey team, he briefly mentioned the U.S. women’s hockey team, who also won gold during the Olympics, beating Canada in an overtime thriller.
‘I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the woman’s team. You do know that?’ President Trump said. The President’s comment elicited laughter from the locker room.
‘I do believe I probably would be impeached,’ the President added.
A USA Hockey spokesperson says while the women’s team received an invitation, it wouldn’t be able to attend. They ultimately declined the President’s invitation.
‘We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,’ the spokesperson said.
‘Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate. They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.’
The Professional Women’s Hockey League returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 26, and the college hockey players on the team have games on Friday. The NHL season resumes on Wednesday.