U.S. hockey goalie Connor Hellebuyck will receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

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Fresh disconnected an Olympic gold medal-winning performance, Team USA men's hockey goalie Connor Hellebuyck volition person the Presidential Medal of Freedom, President Trump announced during his State of the Union address.

"The members of this hockey squad volition beryllium precise blessed to perceive that, based connected their vote, and my vote, and successful this lawsuit my ballot was much important, that I volition soon beryllium presenting Connor with our highest civilian grant ... the Presidential Medal of Freedom," Mr. Trump said Tuesday night, saying helium had asked the squad to ballot connected whether Hellebuyck should person the grant during the team's visit to the Oval Office earlier successful the day.

Mr. Trump made the announcement aft inviting members of Team USA into the House enclosure with their golden medals, which earned them an extended lasting ovation and chants of "U-S-A!" from some sides of the aisle.

"That's the archetypal clip I've ever seen them get up," Mr. Trump said, referring to Democratic members of Congress.

"I've ne'er seen a goalie play arsenic good arsenic Connor Hellebuyck," Mr. Trump said, earning the goalie different circular of applause, during which helium kissed his golden medal and pumped his fist.

President Trump Delivers The State Of The Union Address

Hellebuyck stopped 41 of Team Canada's 42 shots during the crippled for gold. With the people tied 1-1 successful the 3rd period, helium made a important prevention by stretching his instrumentality retired down him and getting conscionable capable of it successful beforehand of a point-blank changeable from Devon Toews, deflecting the puck distant from the goal.

"I asked him, 'The 1 shot, the 1 wherever you enactment the instrumentality successful the back, and it deed the instrumentality and bounced off, bash you signifier that oregon was that a small lucky?'" Mr. Trump said of the singular stop. "He refused to reply that question."

Team USA would spell connected to triumph 2-1 successful sudden-death three-on-three overtime, erstwhile Hellebuyck again made a important prevention to support the crippled live for the U.S. The triumph came connected the 46-year day of the past golden medal men's crystal hockey triumph for Team USA, erstwhile they took down the heavy favored Soviet Union successful the "Miracle connected Ice" astatine the 1980 Olympics successful Lake Placid, New York.

Mr. Trump said each subordinate of the squad "rapidly enactment up their hands" erstwhile helium asked them to ballot connected whether Hellebuyck should beryllium awarded the medal. "What a peculiar occupation you did. What peculiar champions you are. Thank you precise much," helium added, addressing the remainder of the team.

The U.S. women's hockey team, which besides won golden by defeating Canada, declined Mr. Trump's invitation to be the State of the Union, citing scheduling conflicts. However, Mr. Trump said during the State of the Union that they would besides "soon beryllium coming to the White House."

What different athletes person been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

The database includes dozens of superstars specified arsenic Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Babe Ruth. Here are the athletes and coaches who person been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom:

Connor Hellebuyck, hockey
Simone Biles, gymnastics
Magic Johnson, basketball
Lionel Messi, soccer
Jim Thorpe (posthumously), aggregate sports
Katie Ledecky, swimming
Megan Rapinoe, soccer
Babe Didrikson (posthumously), golf, way and field
Tiger Woods, golf
Jerry West, basketball
Dan Gable, wrestling
Jim Ryun, athletics/track and field
Alan Page, football
Roger Staubach, football
Babe Ruth (posthumously), baseball
Michael Jordan, basketball
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, basketball
Willie Mays, baseball
Yogi Berra (posthumously), baseball
Charlie Sifford, golf
Ernie Banks, basketball
Stan Musial, baseball
Pat Summitt, basketball
Dean Smith, basketball
Bill Russell, basketball
Billie Jean King, tennis
Buck O'Neil (posthumously), baseball
Frank Robinson, baseball
Muhammad Ali, boxing
Jack Nicklaus, golf
Arnold Palmer, golf
Roberto Clemente (posthumously), baseball
John Wooden, basketball
Hank Aaron, baseball
Arthur Ashe (posthumously), tennis
Richard Petty, banal car racing
Ted Williams, baseball
Earl Blaik, football
Pierre Baruzy, boxing (awarded the medal for his relation successful the French Resistance during World War II)
Jackie Robinson (posthumously), baseball
Paul Bryant (posthumously), football
Joe DiMaggio, baseball
Jesse Owens, way and field
Robert J.H. Kiphuth, swimming