Some reactions from the women\u2019s side on the saga that has carried over from the final day of the Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n
As many players from the United States women\u2019s hockey team returned to their respective PWHL teams on Wednesday, many were asked about their feelings on how the men\u2019s team reacted to the now-infamous phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump after the team\u2019s gold-medal win<\/a> over Canada this past Sunday.<\/p>\n Many players, like Seattle Torrent captain Hilary Knight, noted that the two teams were very close during their time in Milan, despite some of the reaction around the game.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s a genuine level of support there and respect,\u201d Knight said in an interview on ESPN\u2019s SportsCenter. \u201cI think that\u2019s being overshadowed by sort of a quick lapse\u2026I think the guys were in a tough spot. So, it\u2019s a shame that this storyline and narrative has kind of blown up and overshadowing that connection.\u201d<\/p>\n USA women’s hockey gold medalist @HilaryKnight<\/a> describes her team’s relationship with the USA men’s team as one with a “genuine level of support and respect” that’s being overshadowed by a “quick lapse.”<\/p>\n “Our achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything else other than how\u00a0Show more<\/a><\/p>\n Minnesota Frost forward Kelly Pannek<\/a> also debunked the notion that the women\u2019s team<\/a> was disrespected by the men\u2019s squad.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s something we all know, being there, what it felt like to have their support throughout the tournament,\u201d Pannek said. \u201cTo support them, and how great a moment it was for everyone that was a fan of both teams to come together and say how great it was\u2026 It really was such a special feeling being there, even being able to spend the time with them after their win and the respect that they were showing us.\u201d<\/p>\n Frost forward Taylor Heise<\/a> revealed that a few men\u2019s players actually celebrated the women\u2019s gold medal win last Thursday in the locker room.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember we were sitting in the, I want to say training room,\u201d Heise said. \u201cThey gave us props, and they obviously left us some beers in the fridge\u2026super nice about it. \u2026 We have major respect for them. At the end of the day, it\u2019s hockey, and we try to keep politics out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n On the phone call on Sunday, Trump invited the men\u2019s team to the White House and asked them to attend the State of the Union address on Tuesday night. He also went out of his way to inform the team that he would be inviting the women\u2019s team as well.<\/p>\n \u201cI must tell you,\u201d\u00a0Trump said<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to bring the women\u2019s team, you do know that? \u2026 I do believe I probably would be impeached.\u201d<\/p>\n The reaction from the players included some awkward laughter. It led to backlash from fans and critics in the days that followed. Players like Jack Hughes<\/a>, Jeremy Swayman<\/a> and captain Auston Matthews have stated that they all had a very good relationship with the women\u2019s team throughout the Winter Games, with the video getting taken out of context.<\/p>\n