Jack Hughes defends USA men’s support for women’s hockey team

Team USA Olympic hockey hero Jack Hughes spoke out about his support for his country’s women’s hockey team after his team came under fire for laughing at the president’s joke. Donald Trump About the women’s team.

During an interview on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” Hughes expressed his respect for him. women’s team After McAfee referred to the controversy by joking that Hughes and his teammates “hate” female athletes.

“We’ve been spending a lot of time with them, the women’s team. We’ve been supporting them. Like, we’ve been at their game, they’ve been at our game,” Hughes said.

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Jack Hughes of the United States celebrates after winning the gold medal against Canada at the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, February 22, 2026. (Elsa/Getty Images)

Hughes then appeared to address his team’s recent criticism of his response to a Trump joke.

“All these people talking, how many of them saw their gold medal game? Me and Quinn Hughes were at the game. We were at the game until overtime on the glass, and we were jumping up and down so excited for these girls, they won,” Hughes said.

“And how many of them saw the gold medal game, saw their semifinal game? Like 10 out of 10 of our players saw their game in the round robin. Like, we supported them so much and we’re so proud of them. We’re so happy that they won and they brought back the gold medal and you know, I said, and both men’s teams brought back the gold medal. Incredible for USA Hockey.”

Hughes, who scored the overtime goal to win the gold medal against Canada, reflected on her interaction with U.S. women’s player Megan Keller.

“Me and her had a great moment in the cafeteria after her gold medal game. We played Slovakia the other night, and it was like a late game. And we were in the pasta line — me and Megan. They were getting ready to go out again, and I just hugged her and I said, ‘I’m so happy for you. I’m so proud of you,'” Hough said.

“A few nights later, she showed up again in (the cafeteria) and we took a nice picture and, hey, she gave me a big hug and was so excited for me.”

Hughes told reporters The first thought when the puck went in after the game was Keller, who three days earlier had scored a golden goal for the United States women’s team against Canada.

US women’s hockey gold medalist says ‘sad’ men’s team has to apologize for Olympic controversy

Controversy surrounding the men’s team a Locker room phone call Between the players and Trump right after winning the gold medal against Canada.

Trump said after inviting the men’s team to Tuesday’s event Federation Address that he “needs” to invite the women’s team, or “I’ll be impeached.” The team laughed in response, eliciting a huge reaction.

Several mainstream media outlets wrote op-eds condemning the men’s team for laughing at the joke and then visiting the White House to celebrate and celebrate Trump’s State of the Union address.

Jack Hughes (86) of the United States celebrates scoring the winning overtime goal after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (AP Photo/Carolyn Castor)

US women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight said Wednesday on ESPN’s edition of “SportsCenter.” Trump’s “unpleasant joke” Women’s success is “overshadow(ed)”.

“I thought it was an unsavory joke, and unfortunately, it overshadowed a lot of accomplishments, women’s only accomplishments in the Olympics, carrying for Team USA and winning an amazing gold medal,” Knight said.

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“We’re just focused on celebrating the women in our room, putting in a fantastic effort and continuing to celebrate the three gold medals in the program’s history, as well as the simultaneous double gold medals for both men and women. And a really nasty joke won’t detract from that.”

Hugh’s mother Ellen, A former Team USA player and current player development staff member said the players just “care about bringing so much unity to a group and to a country.”

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