Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy is apologizing over what transpired in the locker room Sunday following Team USA’s gold-medal triumph against Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Speaking to the media Thursday ahead of Boston’s game against Columbus, McAvoy expressed admiration for the U.S. women’s gold medal-winning hockey team, which President Donald Trump joked about on a celebratory phone call to the men’s squad, some of whom laughed at the remarks.
“Certainly sorry for how we responded to it in that moment. You know, things just happened really quick there. And if you know the men’s team, and if you know the relationships that we have, the amount of time that we’ve spent with the women’s team and how we’ve supported them, it’s certainly not reflective of how we feel and look at them and their accomplishments,” McAvoy, a defenseman and the son-in-law of Team USA coach Mike Sullivan, said via WEEI.
The Americans, who edged out rival Canada in overtime Sunday, 2-1, were congratulated by Trump and received White House and State of the Union invites for Tuesday.
In welcoming the men’s team, Trump said, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” and joked if he did not invite the women — who dominated in Milan en route to a gold-medal victory over Canada — he would be impeached, with the remarks eliciting laughter.
Goalie Jeremy Swayman, McAvoy’s Bruins and Team USA teammate, said the team “should’ve reacted differently.”
“We know that we are so excited for the women’s team. We have so much respect for the women’s team. To share that gold medal with them is something we’re forever grateful for,” he said Wednesday.
The women’s team declined Trump’s invite earlier in the week due to scheduling issues, while Flavor Flav pitched an alternative celebration.
Hilary Knight, the captain of the U.S. women’s team, addressed the fallout Wednesday on “SportsCenter,” where she called Trump’s joke “distasteful.”
“I thought it was sort of a distasteful joke and unfortunately that is overshadowing a lot of the success, the success of just women at the Olympics carrying for Team USA and having amazing gold medal feats,” Knight said.
“We’re just focusing on celebrating the women in our room, the extraordinary efforts, and continue to celebrate three gold medals in program history as well as the double gold for both men’s and women’s at the same time. And really not detract from that with a distasteful joke.”
McAvoy and Swayman are among the members of the men’s team who have been asked about the controversial call, including Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk.
When asked why the team laughed at Trump’s remarks, Tkachuk said, “I don’t really have an answer.”
“Honestly, it was just a whirlwind of a moment, and you can’t control what somebody says and… I guess caught off guard a little bit,” he added, according to CTV.
Sunday’s gold medal win was the first for men’s hockey since the 1980 Olympics.