The Stars’ Jake Oettinger reacts to Trump’s comments about the women’s hockey team
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Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, a member of the US men’s hockey team, was asked about President Donald Trump’s comments about the US women’s hockey team, which made it easier for them to win the gold medal.
In the locker room after Team USA’s gold medal win over Canada, Trump invited the men’s team to the State of the Union address by phone. He told the men’s players that he would have to invite the women’s team, otherwise “I might be charged,” and the players laughed.
Trump’s comments and the men’s team’s reaction went viral and drew criticism from fans. Oettinger was asked about his thoughts on Trump’s phone call and comments.
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Team USA’s Jake Oettinger (30) warms up before the first men’s Group C game between the United States and Germany on day nine of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 15, 2026. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
“My opinion about that is that no one supports women’s hockey more than me. I know a lot of those girls myself. I think if you were in a bar watching this game where I was, watching women’s hockey, no one was as happy as I was when they won the gold medal,” Oettinger told reporters on Wednesday.
“They’re amazing, and they deserve all the credit in the world. They’re dominant. I was so happy for those girls. Knowing a few of them made it so cool. It’s great that both men and women have a gold medal right now, it’s great.”
Oettinger said he attended the women’s hockey team’s win over Canada in the first round.
Jake Oettinger of the United States warms up before the ice hockey semifinal match between the United States and Slovakia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 20, 2026. (Photo by Hassan Ammar/AP)
The women’s hockey team initially declined Trump’s invitation to the White House, but the President announced during the State of the Union that the players would visit.
Oettinger supported Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck during the tournament but did not appear on the ice at the Olympics.
The goalkeeper, 27, was one of the five players who did not go to the White House to visit Trump. Oettinger said it was an incredible honor to be invited but cited family and the Stars for a long time as reasons for not attending.
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Jake Oettinger, Connor Hellebuyck and Jeremy Swayman of the United States celebrate after winning the men’s ice hockey gold medal during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 22, 2026. (Photos by James Lang/Imagn)
“First of all, to be invited to the White House is a great honor. I think, for me, I basically live in Italy for a month. I have a big run. I didn’t play much,” said Oettinger.
“I wanted to come back and get my game going, and I have a three-month-old at home, and we’ve been traveling the world. So that kind of went into that. I think those guys had a good time there, but that’s why I didn’t go.”
Brock Nelson, Jackson LaCombe, Jake Guentzel and Kyle Connor were the other members of Team USA who did not attend the White House on Tuesday.
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