Pete Hegseth dubs Team USA goaltender the 'Secretary of Defense' after amazing Olympic save

After watching Team USA decision Canada successful the Olympics men’s hockey golden medal game, United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth bestowed his aged rubric connected American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. 

Hellebuyck collected 41 saves to assistance support the crippled tied astatine 1-1, forcing overtime. Jack Hughes yet scored the game-winner past Canada’s netminder Jordan Binnington. 

One of Hellebuyck’s saves saw him someway halt a wide-open Devon Toews changeable successful beforehand of his crease with lone his stick, turning rapidly with his close manus to halt the puck and support the crippled tied successful the 2nd period. Without that save, and galore others, the effect whitethorn person been different. 

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U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the IRS quality points to 'what we're doing to rebuild our military.' (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

A societal media relationship dubbed Hellebuyck the "Secretary of Defense," and Hegseth, who held that rubric earlier the bureau helium heads became known arsenic the Department of War past September, endorsed the designation. 

"Now we person a Secretary of War…and a Secretary of Defense!" Hegseth said implicit the station showing Hellebuyck’s unthinkable efforts. 

CONNOR HELLEBUYCK'S MIRACLE STICK SAVE HELPED TEAM USA CAPTURE FIRST HOCKEY GOLD SINCE 1980 AT OLYMPICS

Hegseth was 1 of galore showing American pridefulness erstwhile the U.S. took down Canada, which couldn’t capitalize connected immoderate grade-A chances connected Hellebuyck, including adjunct skipper Nathan MacKinnon missing a wide-open nett successful the 3rd period. 

For the prevention connected Toews, the Canadian Colorado Avalanche prima lifted the puck conscionable a spot for Hellebuyck’s paddle to get close successful the mode for the save. At the time, the people was 1-1, and it held determination done the extremity of the 2nd play and passim the 3rd earlier overtime was needed.  

Connor Hellebuyck of Team United States saves the changeable taken by Devon Toews #7 of Team Canada successful the 3rd play during the Men's Gold Medal lucifer betwixt Canada and the United States connected time 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games astatine Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena connected Feb. 22, 2026 successful Milan, Italy. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

"It’s a imagination travel true," Hellebuyck said, via NBC, aft the game. "We grinded, we battled, and this was immoderate of the champion and astir amusive hockey that I’ve ever played."

The 32-year-old Hellebuyck did fto up a extremity to Avalanche prima defenseman Cale Makar successful the 2nd period, but helium made prevention aft prevention pursuing that game-tying people to let his squad the accidental astatine glory. 

After the game, Hellebuyck was skating astir the crystal unsocial with an American emblem connected his back, arsenic the assemblage roared its approval. 

Goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck of United States celebrates winning the golden medal during the Ice Hockey Men's Gold Medal Game lucifer betwixt Canada and USA connected time sixteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games astatine Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena connected Feb. 22, 2026 successful Milan, Italy. (Andrea Branca/Eurasia Sport Images)

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Both the men's and women's hockey teams are coming location with golden successful what was an historical Milan Cortina Games for the U.S.

The U.S. finished with 33 full medals, including a grounds 12 golds successful the Winter Olympics.

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