The USA men’s hockey team celebrated their stunning Winter Olympics gold medal victory with an extravagant party at E11EVEN nightclub in Miami, buoyed by the generosity of ESPN host Pat McAfee. After a confusing travel experience, redirected from New York to Florida due to a severe winter storm, the players were ready to unwind following their thrilling win over Canada.
Arriving back from Milan on Monday afternoon, the team, led by standouts like Jack Hughes, indulged in cigars, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and delivered impassioned victory speeches to an enthusiastic crowd. The night’s revelry included spraying champagne on fans and resulted in an impressive bar bill of $150,000, which McAfee graciously covered. “Thank you for representing the United States of America in such a great way… tonight all of your drinks are on me,” he said, celebrating the team’s achievement.
The following day, many of the gold medalists traveled to Washington, D.C., for a meeting with former President Donald Trump, who had extended the invitation as a nod to their victory. While 20 of the 25 team members attended, five players—Kyle Connor, Jake Oettinger, Brock Nelson, Jake Guentzel, and Jackson LaCombe—chose to continue their celebrations elsewhere, each returning to their respective NHL commitments.
Hughes addressed the criticism surrounding their visit to the Oval Office, emphasizing that they did not mean to detract attention from the women’s team, who also secured gold in Milan. He noted that negative reactions often overshadow sports achievements, stating, “People are so negative out there and they are just trying to find a reason to put people down.”
As Team USA continues to bask in their victory and navigate the changing dynamics in the hockey world, the celebration reflects not only their athletic prowess but also the thrill of coming together as a team—something that their fans are sure to applaud.