While goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was still basking in a golden glow, his Winnipeg Jets teammate Kyle Connor was preparing for work.
Connor practised with the Jets on Wednesday morning in preparation for Winnipeg’s game that evening against the Vancouver Canucks in a matchup of struggling Canadian NHL teams.
Meanwhile, Hellebuyck is scheduled to join the Jets for their game Friday against the Ducks in Anaheim.
Both players were members of the U.S. men’s hockey team which defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the Olympic gold medal Sunday.
Hellebuyck made 41 saves during the game. He was one of the American players who visited President Donald Trump at the White House Tuesday afternoon and then received a standing ovation during the State of the Union address that night.
Trump also announced that Hellebuyck will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honour. Hellebuyck tapped his heart as those in the chamber applauded.
Connor, who skipped the White House visit, didn’t speak to reporters after the Jets practice but earlier told media in Winnipeg he wanted to get ready for the final 26 games of the regular season.
“It’s a big second half, so I wanted to make sure I was ready,” said the 29-year-old left winger who played two games for the U.S. during the Olympic tournament.
“It’s a quick turnaround. I haven’t been playing so I wanted to get a practice under me and be ready for [Wednesday’s] game.”
Jets forward Cole Koepke was careful when asked his thoughts about Hellebuyck’s delay in returning to the team.
“I’m not going to comment too much on that,” he said after practice in Vancouver. “He played a great game, and he deserved to go and receive that award. We’re all supportive of him and he’ll be back when he’s back.”
Jets coach Scott Arniel said the plan always was for Eric Comrie to start against the Canucks after the Olympic break.
“We talked about this,” said Arniel. “Didn’t know the White House part of it was coming into it, but at the end of the day he wasn’t playing tonight.”
Connor was also given the opportunity of not playing against the Canucks.
“He was like ‘nope, I’ll be at practice,’ and he said [he] wanted to play the game right away,” said Arniel. “It’s great to see. He’s a big part of our group and a big leader on our hockey team.”
Arniel was impressed that Hellebuyck is the 44th athlete and first hockey player to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He joins a list that includes greats like Jesse Owens, Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan.
“To be the first hockey player is an amazing honour and one he can be awfully proud of,” said Arniel. “With the list of names on it, it’s pretty impressive.”
The Jets entered Wednesday night’s game with a 22-26-8 record for 52 points, leaving them 11 points back of the final wild card playoff spot in the NHL’s Western Conference.
The Canucks are last in the West with a 18-33-6 record for 42 points.
Connor went into the game second with Jets scoring with 25 goals and 64 points.
Last season Hellebuyck, 32, won his third Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender and the Hart Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player of the regular season.
Hellebuyck underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in November to repair an injury from training camp and returned to play in mid-December.
So far this season he has a 13-16-7 record, a 2.79 goals against average and a .900 save percentage.
A cloud of politics hung over this year’s Olympics. Canada’s losses to the U.S. in both the men’s and women’s gold medal game came at a time of Trump imposing tariffs on Canada and talking about the country becoming the 51st state.
Arniel said the Olympics stirred patriotic feelings for everyone participating but doubted players returning from the Games would carry any grudges into the dressing room.
“I just think that just kind of puts a light on how big the Olympics [are] and how much it means to everybody to represent your country,” he said.
“But when you come back it’s a different mindset. The elite guys recognize they have to come back and need those teammates to help them have success.”
