Olympic Goalie Gets "Secretary of Defense" Plaque

When you make 41 saves to win your country's first Olympic hockey gold in 46 years, you earn more than a medal around your neck.

Connor Hellebuyck, Team USA's heroic goaltender, was all smiles on his flight to Washington D.C. as he showed off a custom plaque declaring him "Secretary of Defense." Teammate Dylan Larkin shared the moment on social media, showing Hellebuyck beaming with pride while holding both his gold medal and the light blue plaque adorned with a bald eagle.

The nickname exploded across social media after Hellebuyck's incredible performance in the 2-1 overtime victory against Canada on Sunday. His most jaw-dropping moment came in the third period when he made a stick save on Devon Toews' shot that would have broken the 1-1 tie.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth loved the nickname so much he celebrated it publicly. "Now we have a Secretary of War…and a Secretary of Defense!" Hegseth posted, sharing the iconic stick save clip.

Why This Inspires

This story captures something bigger than hockey. Hellebuyck and his teammates became the first U.S. men's hockey team since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" squad to win Olympic gold, ending a 46-year drought.

"It's a dream come true," Hellebuyck said after the game. "We grinded, we battled, and this was some of the best and most fun hockey that I've ever played."

The celebration continues to bring Americans together. After partying in Miami, the team flew on an Air Force plane to the White House, where they stopped to take photos with military members at Joint Base Andrews, letting service members pose with their gold medals.

Jack Hughes scored the overtime winner in Milan, but Hellebuyck's performance kept the dream alive. After the victory, he skated alone around the ice with an American flag draped on his back while the crowd roared approval.

Dylan Larkin captured the team's pride perfectly when he explained how the U.S. National Team Development Program instills deep patriotism. "Every time you take the jersey off, for me at least, I don't know the next time I'm going to put it on," he shared.

The "Secretary of Defense" plaque might be unofficial, but for millions of Americans watching Hellebuyck shut down Canada's best players, no title could be more fitting.