Former NHL forward Jeremy Roenick has criticized people who refused to celebrate Team USA’s men’s hockey gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Speaking on Fox News Channel’s “Jesse Watters Primetime” on Monday, he said sport should unite Americans and should not turn into a political fight. His comments came as debate spread online after Team USA players spoke by phone with President Donald Trump following the gold medal game.
Team USA won gold on February 22, 2026, in Milan, beating Canada in overtime. It marked a major milestone for USA Hockey and revived memories of past signature moments on the Olympic stage.
A gold medal that reignited USA Hockey pride
The United States defeated Canada in the men’s gold medal game at the Milano Cortina Olympics on February 22. The game ended in overtime, and the win delivered a rare Olympic title for the U.S. men. Players celebrated on the ice and in the locker room, with cameras capturing the immediate aftermath.
The rivalry with Canada gives the result extra weight. The two countries share a long history in international hockey, and their games often carry high stakes. This final also drew broad attention in the U.S., where Olympic hockey can spike in popularity when the team reaches the medal round.
Jeremy Roenick calls for celebration without politics
On “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Roenick argued that the country should rally around a gold medal moment. He said criticism aimed at the players misses the point of international sport. He framed the win as a national achievement that should bring people together, regardless of party or ideology.
Roenick also suggested that most fans reacted positively online. He then pointed to a smaller but loud backlash that followed the locker-room phone call with the president. In his view, that reaction turned a sports celebration into a political argument.
Roenick is a high-profile voice in American hockey. He played for several NHL teams and spent years as a national TV analyst. That background gives his reaction extra visibility, especially when the story already sits at the intersection of sports and politics.
The Trump call that sparked the criticism
President Trump spoke with the men’s team by phone in the locker room after the gold medal win. Reports said he congratulated the players and invited them to attend his State of the Union address on February 24, 2026. He also discussed a White House visit tied to the Olympic titles.
Some players voiced enthusiasm about the invitation in postgame coverage. That response triggered criticism from some observers who objected to the team’s engagement with the president. Others defended the players and treated the call as routine recognition for an Olympic champion.
A locker-room call is a simple gesture in practice. It is also symbolically charged, because it links a sports moment to the country’s political leadership. That is why the video spread quickly and drew reactions well beyond the hockey audience.
Why this debate keeps returning in Olympic sports
Olympic competition often carries national symbolism. Athletes compete under a flag, and medal ceremonies feature an anthem. That framework can blur the line between sport and politics, even when teams focus only on performance.
In the U.S., the split tends to sharpen when a president becomes part of the story. Some fans see White House recognition as standard for champions. Others view it through the lens of broader political disputes. As a result, the same action can look like unity to one group and provocation to another.
Roenick’s main point targeted that pattern. He said the country should protect major sports moments from partisan conflict. He framed celebration as a shared civic ritual, not an endorsement of any political figure.
What happens next for Team USA and USA Hockey
The immediate focus now shifts from celebration to scheduling. Many Olympic players return quickly to professional seasons. That limits time for extended events and makes attendance at political ceremonies harder to coordinate.
USA Hockey, meanwhile, can use the title as a platform for growth. A men’s gold medal can boost youth interest and television attention, especially when the win comes against Canada. Governing bodies often lean on such moments to attract sponsors and expand development programs.
The controversy may also linger, because clips of the locker-room call continue to circulate. That keeps the story alive beyond the final score and pushes the athletes into a wider cultural debate they did not start on the ice.
Roenick’s appearance added fuel in a different way. It shifted attention to the public reaction itself and challenged critics to separate a sports achievement from partisan conflict. Team USA’s gold medal stands as a fact on the record. The argument now centers on how the country chooses to receive it.