Donald Trump welcomes Team USA men’s hockey heroes into the Oval Office for gold medal celebration… after women’s team turned down offer

Donald Trump’s opulent oval office added a bit more gold on Tuesday as the triumphant US men’s hockey team visited the White House following Sunday’s historic Olympic finals win over rival Canada. 

‘I know every one of you,’ Trump joked as Team USA center Auston Matthews approached the standing President. 

Trump then added, ‘big guys,’ before shaking 6ft1 Dylan Larkin’s hand. 

The one Team USA star who was instantly recognized by Trump was Panthers veteran Matthew Tkachuk, who recently made flattering comments about the President as Florida celebrated its latest Stanley Cup title at the White House last month. 

‘There’s my friend,’ Trump told the elder Tkachuk brother. ‘You’ve come a long way since I last saw you.’ 

Twenty of Team USA’s 25 members are expected to be at Trump’s State of the Union Address on Tuesday night, a Team USA Hockey spokesperson confirmed to The Athletic. 

The American women also clinched their third Olympic gold medal in hockey with an overtime victory against rival Canada, but declined the White House invitation, citing scheduling conflicts. Trump previously angered women’s hockey fans by joking during a phone call with the American men that he was only inviting the women’s team to Washington to avoid impeachment. 

Most of Team USA was on hand Tuesday at the Oval Office, where players met Donald Trump

Donald Trump greeted Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk by saying: ‘There’s my friend’ 

Members of Team USA are pictured outside the White House on Tuesday afternoon 

One men’s player who missed Tuesday’s trip to Washington was Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jake Guentzel, who is scheduled to play Wednesday against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Matthews is also slated to play for the Leafs in that game, but did make the trip to the White House on Tuesday. 

Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor, Anaheim’s Jackson LaCombe, Colorado’s Brock Nelson and Dallas’ Jake Oettinger also missed Tuesday’s trip to Washington, according to multiple reports. 

The rest of the team is expected to be on hand for Trump’s State of the Union. 

‘We’re going to work out logistics, and somehow, some way, we’ll squeeze in the hockey players tonight, and it’ll be a great moment for America,’ House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican, Louisiana) told reporters on Tuesday. ‘And it really is a symbol to all of us that we all play for America’s team.’ 

The gold medalists all seemed to be awake and in good spirits, despite a grueling week that has already included stops in Milan, Miami and now Washington. 

Jack Hughes, Connor Hellebuyck & Co. took off Tuesday morning from South Florida aboard a US Air Force 757, which was sent to bring the gold medalists to Washington by none other than Trump. The President had previously promised to fly the American hockey stars to Washington to celebrate their Olympic success. 

Upon landing at Maryland‘s Joint Base Andrews, team members took photos with military personnel along the runway and by Tuesday afternoon, the grinning, sleep-deprived gold medalists were pictured on the White House’s front lawn.  

Team USA is seen boarding an Air Force 757 to head to Washington to celebrate their success

Team USA goalie Connor Hellebuyck is pictured by teammate Dylan Larkin aboard the 757

Team USA players take a passing interest in the newly installed Presidential Walk of Fame 

The fact they were standing at all was a minor miracle.  

As seen in video and photographs obtained by the Daily Mail, the American men left their South Beach hotel for the nation’s capital at 9am on Tuesday despite returning to their rooms just five hours earlier. 

Several Team USA stars, including Buffalo’s Tage Thompson and Toronto’s Matthews were spotted in matching Team USA sweaters and blue Nikes. Most importantly, the players had their Olympic gold medals and some sorely needed coffee. 

Since landing in Miami on Monday, after their flight was diverted to South Florida by snowstorms along the Atlantic Coast, Team USA stars checked into 1 Hotel South Beach and promptly went up to the rooftop pool, where they took photos with fans and enjoyed a few beers.

Hours later they were spotted smoking cigars in the 1 Hotel lobby before heading out for a night in Miami Beach, where onlookers were gathered to catch a glimpse of the gold medalists. As the Daily Mail has learned, there was even a crowd of supporters outside the hotel as the players boarded a double-decker bus for their evening festivities.

From there, the players enjoyed dinner at COTE Miami followed by a few drinks at E11EVEN Miami.

By 4am, the players were back at their hotel before doing their best to be out by 9am for their departing flight to Washington and a meeting with President Donald Trump.

Team USA’s Dylan Larkin (left) and Jack Hughes show off their gold medals at the White House

Tage Thompson, Clayton Keller, Jake Guentzel and Auston Matthews at 1 Hotel South Beach

Jack Hughes is pictured sharing his beer with some onlookers in Miami with his brother, Quinn, standing behind him. The team was celebrating their gold medal victory at E11EVEN Miami

As previously reported by the Daily Mail, players sprayed champagne over themselves and revelers, smoked cigars and sang ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ at E11EVEN.

When asked if the players are jet lagged, a source told Daily Mail: ‘F*** no. They’re hockey players. They get their teeth banged out. They’re on adrenaline and on a high.’

Footage and images captured from inside E11EVEN by Daily Mail shows the players letting loose as the DJ blasted out Americana and country music.

It’s understood the festivities led to a $150,000 bar bill with vast amounts of E11EVEN Vodka, Armand de Brignac champagne and Dame Más tequila consumed. Players could be seen pouring booze into fans’ mouths as they danced from the stage above.

At one stage, they played a replay of Hughes’ iconic overtime goal that secured victory against the Canadians. The clip was greeted with huge roars from the crowd inside the club.

Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 41 shots in a remarkable individual performance against the Canadians, was given the microphone to address the crowd.

Larkin shares a beer with former Detroit and Team USA defenseman, Chris Chelios (inset)

Red Wings star Dylan Larkin enjoys a beer and some champagne while partying in Miami

Jack Hughes, Dylan Larkin and Brady Tkachuk are seen partying in Miami with their medals

L-R: Brady Tkachuk, golden goal hero Jack Hughes and Matthew Tkachuk celebrate in Miami

Florida Panthers star and two-time Stanley Cup winner Matthew Tkachuk from a familiar view

Matthew Tkachuk (L) and Connor Hellebuyck (center) are paraded through the streets

Jack Hughes flashes a toothless grin atop a party bus in the streets of Miami

After getting a wild reception, the crowd started chanting ‘Helle, Helle!’

He replied to them: ‘Are we having a good time tonight?

‘Can I get a round of applause for my teammates? They battled so hard. Every single guy in here.

‘Every detail mattered this entire trip. We did this not only for us, we wanted to bring gold to you guys. We want to celebrate the US f***ing A. So enjoy this one with us tonight. We’re having a good time. I know you’re having a good time. This is for the USA.’

The players finally started to depart the nightclub around 3am ET.