The Olympic's Hockey Controversy

Kaitlyn Nielsen | Sports Editor

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The winter 2026 Olympics were filled with many highs and lows for countries, fans, and athletes alike. The USA hockey team, especially, is walking away with two gold medals, one for the women's and one for the men's teams. For the men, this was a monumental moment, finally winning Olympic gold after a 46-year-long dry period. However, their win was quickly overshadowed by some unfortunate display of behavior and character. 

The gold medal match-up was a high-intensity rivalry between the United States and Canada. Coincidentally, the Women also faced off against Canada for gold. From the beginning of the game, the men's USA team set a tone for an aggressive and strong defensive game. Continuously shutting down Canada’s advances. What made the game was the usage of efficient special team plays by the US, as well as the composure kept under pressure. These factors contributed to their end score following overtime of 2-1.

After such a win, the men and women both deserved to celebrate. Both teams took to their locker rooms following the game to indulge in those endeavors. However, a leaked video showed just how extreme those endeavors went.

The first red flag raised by many was the appearance of FBI director Kash Patel. Many fans and viewers saw Patel partying and drinking in the locker room with the hockey team. They question his presence, whether it was appropriate in regard to his demands and priorities as the director of the FBI. 

However, Patel’s presence is overshadowed by the words that are followed by our country's presidents. As part of the celebration, a member of the hockey team made the decision to call President Donald Trump. While on the phone, Trump was heard making some concerning remarks regarding the women's team. Stating that “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that. I do believe I probably would be impeached”. Following this comment, the locker room erupted into laughter, leaving a sour taste in many fans' mouths. 

The video generated a large conversation pertaining to women's sports being taken seriously. While not a new conversation, this issue has become more blatant as time has progressed. Even though both teams won, and might I add the women scored one more goal than the men to secure their win, they are still treated less compared to their male counterparts. The conversation spread across social media, following the women’s team declining the president’s offer to have them at the white house. Many celebrities, such as Stanley Tucci, offered to host them instead. 

To seal the deal on this controversy, popular late-night show SNL decided to weigh in on its opinion on the scandal. The show's host was Connor Storrie, who is a main character on a popular TV show called “Heated Rivalry," following male hockey players through their relationships. So it was only fitting to invite real-life hockey players following both teams'wins. However, it was the manner in which the writer aligned the jokes that was a perfect comeback to all of the controversy the teams had faced. 

Joining Connor Storrie on stage were the Hughes brothers, Jack and Quinn. Storrie proceeded to ask the two questions regarding his new show, and when both answered that they hadn’t seen it.Following this both Hilary Knight and Megan Keller appeared. A bit later in the monologue, it was stated by Keller that “It was gonna be just us, but we thought we’d invite the guys too. We’d thought we’d give them a little moment to shine”. 

This was a pinnacle moment for not only the men’s team but the women’s. It offered the men's team a bit of redemption, and it offered the women the upper hand in the situation. SNL has a long history of incorporating comedy and social commentary. Having individuals who are actively in the same controversy have a national stage to discuss it, which contributes to the cultural discussions that will play out next. 

Overall, navigating this situation is challenging for both teams. SNL offered the opportunity for the athletes to discuss, respond, and reclaim the narrative. During this politically strenuous time, it was very important for the women to have a voice through this discourse, to share their side, and to be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor.