United States men’s ice hockey goaltender Jeremy Swayman has admitted that the men’s squad should have responded differently after President Donald Trump made a quip referencing the women’s Winter Olympic hockey team. America dominated on the ice at the Games, with both the men’s and women’s sides defeating Canada 2-1 in their respective gold medal matches.

Following the men’s squad clinching gold for the first time since 1980, jubilant celebrations ensued, and President Trump extended an invitation to the White House. The players spoke with Trump by telephone in the dressing room after the match, during which the president joked that he would be “impeached” if he failed to extend the invitation to the women’s team.

Players faced significant backlash for laughing at Trump’s remark, and Swayman has since expressed regret.

All but five members of the men’s Team USA roster visited Trump at the White House on Tuesday and were honoured during his State of the Union address to Congress, proudly sporting their gold medals. The women’s team declined Trump’s invitation.

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However, a spokesperson confirmed the decision was down to scheduling conflicts, with Trump stating on Tuesday that the women’s team would visit the White House at a later date. Nevertheless, the men’s squad has faced criticism for attending, particularly following their reaction to Trump’s jest.

“We should’ve reacted differently,” Swayman said upon rejoining his NHL club, the Boston Bruins. “We’re so excited for the women’s team and have so much respect for the women’s team.

“To share that gold medal with them is something that we are forever grateful for. Now that we are home, we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support that we have from the USA.”

Swayman served as one of two reserve goalkeepers for Team USA, alongside Dallas Stars netminder Jake Oettinger. Neither custodian was called upon, as Connor Hellebuyck delivered a faultless performance and even received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his heroics against Team Canada.

Yet, unlike Swayman, Oettinger was among the five players who declined the White House visit. “First of all, getting invited to go to the White House is a tremendous honor,” Oettinger explained.

“I think, for me, I’ve been basically living in Italy for a month. I have a huge stretch run. I wasn’t playing much. I wanted to come back and get my game ready to go, and I also have a three-month-old baby at home, and we’ve been travelling the world.”

Oettinger subsequently addressed Trump’s remarks regarding the women’s team. “My opinion on that is there’s no one that supports women’s hockey more than me,” he said. “I know a lot of those girls personally.

“I think if you would’ve been at the bar watching the game with me where I was, watching the women’s hockey, there was no one as excited as me when they won the gold medal. They’re incredible, and they deserve all the credit in the world.

“They’re dominant. I was just so happy for those girls. To get to know a few of them personally made it that much cooler. The fact that the men and the women both have the gold medal right now is pretty cool.”

This article first appeared on Mirror US.

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