Hilary Knight doesn’t want to pass up what she called an “unsavory” joke President Donald Trump about the win gold medal The U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team stands in the way of a historic achievement by American women in all sports Milan Cortina Games.
“I just found the joke distasteful and unfortunate,” Knight said Wednesday along with fellow Olympians Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes at the Seattle Space Needle ahead of their return to play for the Seattle Torrent of the Professional Women’s Hockey League. “And I think the way women are represented is a great learning point and really sheds light on how women should be championed for their great achievements.”
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Knight, a two-time gold medalist whose 15 goals and 33 points in Olympic competition are the most by a U.S. hockey player at the Games, said she is not focusing on an offhand comment from Trump after the U.S. men surpassed Canada for gold in overtime on Sunday.
Speaking over a locker room loudspeaker after the game, Trump invited the men’s team to the White House, adding: “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you know that.” The president later joked that if he didn’t extend the invitation, he would likely be impeached.
While the vast majority of the men’s team flew to Washington on Tuesday and visited Trump at the White House (where they were served McDonald’s) before being guests at the State of the Unionmany of the women’s players were on their way back to their professional or college clubs.
USA Hockey, which said it was “honored” by the invitation, cited logistical issues as the main hurdle keeping the women’s team from visiting the White House. The team was originally scheduled to fly commercially to New York on Monday, but had to detour through Atlanta due to a snowstorm in the Northeast.
But in his speech on Tuesday, Trump announced that the women would “come to the White House.”
“We look forward to hosting them at the White House following their tremendous victory and celebration,” a White House official later told HuffPost.
HuffPost reached out to USA Hockey for confirmation but had not heard back.
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Several American women would linger in New York for promotional purposes and even ring the doorbell of the New York Stock Exchange. Those scheduled performances had to be canceled due to flight changes.
Knight lamented that the video — which showed several players laughing after Trump’s comments — took on a life of its own and did not convey the true nature of the relationship between the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey programs.
“The men’s and women’s teams did it together,” Knight said. “And that’s super special. It’s never been done before in the history of our program. It’s something we’re extremely proud of. But these women are amazing. And no matter what happens, their work and our success on the world stage should never be overshadowed or downplayed.”
Kelly Pannek, a forward on the women’s team, told reporters that “the video is what it is,” but added that it was a “special feeling” to spend time with the men’s team after they won the first Olympic gold for the U.S. in 46 years. Pannek believes there is mutual respect and support on both sides.
Goaltender Jeremy Swayman told reporters in Boston after returning to training with the Bruins that the men “should have reacted differently” to Trump’s comments.
“To share that gold medal with them is something we are forever grateful for,” Swayman said. “And now that we’re home, we can share that together forever and see the incredible support we have from the US and share this incredible gold medal.”
Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal for the US in extra time, also said the moment did not reflect the views of the men’s team.
“You’re in the moment and the president calls. We’re blaring the music. It is what it is,” Hughes said afterward Wednesday night. his first game back with the New Jersey Devils. “We have so much respect for the women’s team and they have so much respect for us. We’re all just proud Americans.”
The earliest U.S. women could visit the White House would be in late spring, after the PWHL season concludes.
The US won twelve gold medals in Milan Cortina, eight of which were women. The women’s hockey team defeated their opponents 33-2 on their way to the top of the podium.
“This was the best U.S. women’s hockey team, the best U.S. team we’ve ever put together on the world stage when the lights were the brightest they’ve ever been,” Knight said. “And so I think everyone felt that during the tournament. And I want to celebrate it. I want people to be remembered for that. I want the legacy of this team to be remembered.”
HuffPost contributed to this report.
