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NHL commissioner Gary Bettman declined an opportunity Tuesday to examine the political side of US hockey’s celebration of the Milan-Cortina Olympics but said he thought the revelations were “unfortunate and untrue.”
“I know the men’s team had no intention of doing anything to undermine the women’s team,” said Bettman when he was available to the media at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. “If anything, both teams were chanting, ‘Two by two.'”
The Americans won Olympic gold in both the men’s and women’s events. Both finals were 2-1 overtime wins over Canada.
After the men’s victory on February 22, the Americans were joined in the dressing room by FBI director Kash Patel. Players also received a speakerphone call from President Donald Trump.
During his call, Trump invited the delegation to attend his State of the Union address two days later before adding that he would have to invite a women’s group as well. Later, he said that if he does not invite these women, he risks being fired, which led the players to laugh at the speech, which many considered to be sexist.
The men spent a lot of time last week answering questions about why some of them laughed when Trump made a joke. Many said they were caught up in the post-game celebration.
Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson responded to the controversy surrounding the US men’s hockey team after the team came under fire for a video showing several male players laughing during a phone call with US President Donald Trump in which he joked that he “should” invite the women’s team to the White House, too. Tkachuk was also questioned about his video with an AI doctor posted on the White House TikTok account.
“What happened and the way it was presented, I wish it didn’t happen the way it did, and I think it was wrong for the men’s team,” said Bettman. “And again, I don’t think the women’s group had a different opinion about it. I mean look at it [U.S. women’s captain] Hilary Knight and others talk about what happened. Both teams respected each other.”
By all accounts, America’s two hockey teams are close in athletics and supporting each other’s run for gold. The players emphasized that last week.
The women’s team did not receive a congratulatory phone call from the president and did not learn of the White House invitation until hours after the men’s game ended. The team politely declined the invitation, citing the transportation arrangements that had been put in place days before.
Many male actors joined Trump at the White House on February 24 and were later cheered on at the Capitol during his speech.
Bettman is not focused on World Cup of Hockey bids
Also on Tuesday, Bettman did not comment on the country’s potential bids to host the 2028 World Cup of Hockey.
Bettman says he won’t encourage speculation about which cities are looking to host the international tournament.
The World Cup of Hockey pits the world’s best players against each other under their national banners.
It has not been held since 2016, when Canada defended its title twelve years ago by beating Team Europe 2-1 in the final.
When asked if Calgary and Edmonton are submitting a bid to co-host the event, Bettman said he “knows about the bid.”
Bettman says he would not provide details including whether it was a joint or independent effort and from whom.
If the tournament were to come to Calgary, it would come shortly after the completion of its new stadium.
