Lists of US men’s hockey team members that declined Trump’s White House invitation and Reasons

At least five members of the newly crowned Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team have declined President Donald Trump’s invitation to visit the White House and attend his State of the Union address tonight, sources confirmed today.

The players opting out include Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jake Guentzel, Colorado Avalanche center Brock Nelson, Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor, and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe.

The group was part of the squad that captured America’s first men’s hockey Olympic gold in 46 years with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win over Canada in Milan on Sunday. Following the victory, Trump called the team to congratulate them and extended invitations for a White House visit and to join him as guests at the State of the Union.

While the majority of the roster—approximately 20 players—accepted and traveled to Washington, the five cited personal and professional scheduling conflicts as their reasons for declining.

No political statements have been made by the players or their agents, with reports emphasizing rest, travel fatigue, and the immediate return to NHL duties as the primary factors.

The Lightning, for example, are preparing for a key game Wednesday, and Guentzel is expected back in Tampa for practice. Similar logistical considerations were cited for the others.

The U.S. women’s hockey team, also Olympic gold medalists this year, had previously declined the same invitation en masse due to scheduling.

The selective absences have sparked online discussion but appear driven by practical rather than ideological considerations, as most of the championship roster is set to be honored at the White House in the coming weeks.