Five players from the United States men's hockey team, including Kyle Connor, Jake Guentzel, Jackson LaCombe, Brock Nelson, and Jake Oettinger, declined an invitation from President Donald Trump to visit the White House after their Olympic victory. The absence of these players was noted, particularly as the team captain Auston Matthews, along with Clayton Keller and Dylan Larkin, were also not present during Trump's State of the Union address in Congress. Nelson cited his desire to return to his family as his reason for declining the invitation, while Connor expressed a need to prepare for an upcoming game with the Winnipeg Jets. Interestingly, Connor's teammate Connor Hellebuyck attended the White House event and received praise from Trump, who expressed his admiration for Hellebuyck's performance and mentioned plans to present him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. The players' decision to skip the White House visit highlights the ongoing political divisions in the country and reflects how some athletes feel about engaging with political leaders. Their absence can be interpreted as a statement or just a personal choice, but it certainly captures the intersection of sports and politics in contemporary America, especially in light of the recent Olympic achievements.