Team USA hockey star Jake Guentzel has revealed that he did not visit the White House due to a ‘timing thing for me and my family.’
President Trump welcomed Mike Sullivan’s gold medalists to his State of the Union address on Tuesday night in honor their Winter Olympics triumph.
The visit was steeped in controversy after Trump was heard telling the men’s team in a leaked phone call from the locker room: ‘We are going to have to bring the women’s team… I do believe I would probably be impeached [if I didn’t invite them].’
His comment drew laughter from the men’s team, who instantly accepted the offer. An invitation was later sent to the women’s team, but it was declined.
Guentzel was among only five players not to take up Trump’s offer, along with Brock Nelson, Kyle Connor, Jackson LaCombe and Jake Oettinger.
On Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Lightning star insisted that his absence was not out of opposition to the president.
Team USA hockey star Jake Guentzel (L) has explained why he did not visit the White House
President Trump welcomed Mike Sullivan’s gold medalists to his State of the Union address
‘It would obviously be a dream come true to go,’ Guentzel said about visiting the president
‘I was definitely not denying the request to go,’ Guentzel said. ‘It would obviously be a dream come true to go, I was fortunate to go in 2017 when Trump was in office…
‘[But] we’ve got a lot of games coming up the rest of the year, it’s going to be a tough schedule,’ he continued.
‘So, two weeks of Olympic break, thought it would be good to come home, rest and recover and try to spend some time with my family before we get going.’
Guentzel’s teammate Matthew Tkachuk opened up on the ‘special’ experience of attending Trump’s speech following their triumph over Canada in the gold-medal clash.
The Olympic champions – led by goalscoring hero Jack Hughes and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck – were given a rousing welcome as they entered the House chamber to wild chants of ‘U-S-A.’
The Republicans and most others in attendance rose to give the players a standing ovation – with the notable exception of a handful of Democrats.
‘I’m gonna be honest, I was chanting “U-S-A” myself – like I’ve never done that before. I don’t think in my life other than like another sports event,’ Tkachuk, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Florida Panthers, told Fox’s Sean Hannity.
‘It was really cool to walk down and hold the gold medal and chant “U-S-A” and see everybody standing and applauding,’ Tkachuk continued.
Trump gave the team a rousing introduction as deafening ‘U-S-A’ chants filled the chamber
‘It was a really special moment for myself and my teammates. We felt the love and support ever since we’ve stepped foot back in the US.’
During the celebrations, Trump announced he was awarding Hellebuyck, who remarkably saved 41 of 42 shots in the 2-1 overtime win over Canada, the Presidential Medal of Freedom following a vote by the players.
Trump said: ‘They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as everybody saw. As did the American women, who will soon be coming to the White House.
‘They were in the Oval Office before and I just want to say a second big congratulations to Team USA. We took a vote and I said “if anybody votes no, I’m not doing it.”
‘They said they weren’t about to say no because they’ve never seen a goaltender play as well as Connor Hellebuyck.
‘I asked him, “the one shot where you put your stick in the back and it hit the neck of your stick and bounced off, did you practice that or was it a little lucky? He refused to answer that question.
‘But I just want to tell you that the members of this great hockey squad will be very happy to hear, based on their vote and my vote and in this case my vote was more important, that I will soon be presenting Connor with our highest civilian honor which is the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
They walked along the West Wing colonnade where Trump has portraits of every president
‘What a special job you did. What special champions you are. Thank you very much.’
The men’s team spent Tuesday in Washington DC after being invited by Trump in the celebratory locker room phone call that has since divided America.
Following a riotous night of celebrations in Miami, the men’s team flew to Washington DC on Tuesday morning.
They met Trump in the Oval Office as he prepared to deliver his State of the Union address.
